Kathy Hochul took the oath of office just after midnight in a private event with the state’s chief judge, Janet DiFiore. Hochul , a Democrat, was a former member of Congress from Western New York. The new Governor of New York will take on many issues and challenges as the prior administration was facing mounting criticism during Andrew Cuomo’s final months in office.
“I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, and I’ll tell New Yorkers I’m up to the task. And I’m really proud to be able to serve as their governor and I won’t let them down,” Hochul reported the Buffalo New York News Agency, WGRZ.
Hochul was born in Buffalo, New York. She earned a B.A. from Syracuse University in 1980 and a J.D. from Catholic University in 1983. Hochul worked as an attorney in private practice. She also served as an aide to Rep. John LaFalce (D) from 1984 to 1986, as an aide to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D) from 1986 to 1988, as Deputy Clerk of Erie County in New York from 2003 to 2007, and as Clerk of Erie County from 2007 to 2011. Source Ballotpedia.com
Hochul, was lieutenant governor, and will have the opportunity to make changes where Cuomo handled all decision-making before resigning amid a sexual harassment scandal. In Cuomo’s farewell speech he said, “Given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing.”s
Andrew Cuomo assumed office on January 1, 2011. He left office on August 24, 2021 resigning due to a sexual harassment scandal. Cuomo ran for re-election for Governor of New York. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018. Cuomo was the state’s attorney general from 2007 to 2010 before he was elected Governor of NY. He also served in the cabinet of President Bill Clinton (D) as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1997 to 2001.
