Kathy Hochul: First Woman Governor of New York State
Kathy Hochul, governor of New York
Kathy Hochul became the first woman governor of New York state on Aug. 24, 2021. Hochul, a Democrat and the state’s former lieutenant governor, replaced Governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned under investigation for sexual harassment. She has held a variety of local, state, and federal government positions.
Kathleen Courtney was born Aug. 27, 1958, in Buffalo, New York. She spent summer vacations volunteering for local politicians. She graduated from Syracuse University in 1980 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science. She completed a law degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., three years later. In 1984, she married the American lawyer William Hochul. Kathy Hochul spent nearly a decade working as a private practice attorney and legislative aide in Washington, D.C., before moving back to New York.
Hochul’s political career began in 1994, as a member of the town board for Hamburg, New York. After nine years on the board, she was appointed deputy clerk of Erie County. In 2007, she was appointed by Governor Eliot Spitzer to fill a vacancy as Erie County clerk. She was reelected to the office later that year, serving until 2011. In that year, she was elected U.S. representative for New York’s 26th Congressional District. She replaced Representative Christopher Lee, a Republican, following his resignation. Hochul’s win was unexpected in the traditionally Republican district.
Hochul served as representative from 2011 to 2013. She lost reelection in 2012 to Republican Chris Collins. Following her defeat, Hochul joined the private sector, serving as vice president for government relations at M&T Bank.
Hochul ran for lieutenant governor in 2014, eventually joining a ticket with Cuomo. During her time as lieutenant governor, Hochul spearheaded a campaign against sexual assaults on college campuses, under the slogan “Enough Is Enough.” She also was appointed by Cuomo to chair the state’s Heroin and Opioid Task Force, along with a number of regional investment councils.
