NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to make history when she becomes the first female governor in the history of New York state after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that he will be stepping down over sexual harassment allegations.
Hochul will take over the post in two weeks, when Cuomo's resignation takes effect.
"I agree with Governor Cuomo's decision to step down. It is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers," Hochul said in a statement. "As someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in the line of succession, I am prepared to lead as New York State's 57th Governor."
WHO IS KATHY HOCHUL?
Hochul, a 62-year-old lawyer and mother of two, was born in Buffalo, New York, and cut her teeth in politics working as a legislative aide to U.S. Rep. John LaFalce and Sen. Daniel Moynihan before holding her first public office on the town board in Hamburg.
The centrist Democrat is a graduate of Syracuse University and Catholic University, where she received her Juris Doctor.
She is a Catholic, but is pro-choice, and has vocally supported state measures to address paid family leave and sexual assault on college campuses.
WHAT DOES SHE SAY ABOUT THE CUOMO ALLEGATIONS?
Hochul was tapped to campaign as Cuomo’s lieutenant governor back in 2014. Last week, she distanced herself from the governor, calling his behavior “repulsive," after Attorney General Letitia James’ damning report concluded Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women.
“The AG’s investigation has documented repulsive & unlawful behavior by the Governor towards multiple women,” Hochul said. “I believe these brave women & admire their courage coming forward.”
Hochul added that “no one is above the law,” but declined to comment further saying is would “not be appropriate” as the next in line of succession.
WHAT'S HER POLITICAL BACKGROUND?
In 2007, then-Gov. Elliot Spitzer appointed her to the role of Erie County clerk. During her time there she notably pushed back against Spitzer’s proposal to allow undocumented immigrants access to drivers’ licenses, warning that, should the policy take effect, she’d have undocumented applicants arrested.
Hochul later flipped to support the idea more than a decade later while serving as lieutenant governor. She told Politico in 2018 that her stance at the time reflected the conservative bent of Erie County.
“That was 11 years ago, and there were very few people saying that was the right policy at the time,” she told the outlet.
Hochul served the House of Representatives' 26th District after winning a special election in 2011 as a self-proclaimed “independent Democrat.” She was endorsed by the National Rifle Association in her 2012 re-election bid and received an “A” rating from the organization at the time.
Hochul only spent 18 months in the House. She ended up losing her re-election campaign to Republican Chris Collins in 2012, after the district was redrawn to include more Republicans.
WHAT'S HER ROLE AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?
As lieutenant governor, she is most known for an aggressive travel schedule that sends her to all 62 New York counties at least once a year – typically for celebratory events and ribbon-cuttings where she promotes Cuomo’s agenda. She managed to keep up the demanding lifestyle during the coronavirus pandemic.
"It was important to been seen in all those counties, particularly the more remote counties, so they didn't feel that they were neglected or abandoned," Hochul told Buffalo News earlier this year. "Now more than ever, it was important to show up personally."
Several public appearances last month saw Hochul announcing job training funding in Utica, discussing manufacturing in Rome and touring downtown Cazenovia with the small town’s mayor.
She was rarely seen at Cuomo's side and would appear at events separately.
WHAT DO OTHERS SAY?
Hochul previously faced criticism for closely toeing the Cuomo line. The New York Times Editorial Board in 2018 endorsed her primary challenger, now-Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, describing Hochul’s tenure as “little more than an echo for Gov. Andrew Cuomo.”
“So many people put their faith in me, and every day I got up and said I don’t want to let the people of my community — my hometown — down,” Hochul said at her 2018 reelection party in Buffalo. “I fought for you and I fought alongside our governor.”
Former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said the timing is right and the circumstances are fitting for a woman to take the top spot in the state.
"It really does send a message that it is a woman who is stepping in after a sexual assault and sexual harassment scandal," Quinn told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
She wishes the first would have been by virtue of an election, but it's still huge woman. Quinn believes a woman is needed to clean up Albany's boys club culture.
"Forever, Albany has been known as a very dangerous place for women," Quinn said.
At a news briefing last Wednesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he’s gotten to know Hochul over the last few years and “she strikes me as a very reasonable person.”
“I believe if Kathy Hochul becomes governor, she’ll be an honest broker,” he said then. “We’ll be able to work together.”
Sen. Jim Gaughran expressed confidence in Hochul in a statement Tuesday.
"The past few months have been a very difficult period for the people of New York State. I thank and commend the incredibly brave women who stepped forward and spoke truth to power. No one is above the law," said Gaughran. "I have known and worked with Kathy Hochul for years and there is no one better equipped to step in and lead New York as the State continues to navigate the pandemic and heal from these past few months. Her decades of public service across the local, state, and federal levels will serve New Yorkers well and help lead the State through this tumultuous time. I look forward to working with Incoming Governor Kathy Hochul to move New York forward. Let's get to work."
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called Hochul "an exceptional public servant" and believes she will be "an excellent governor."
"I look forward to working together to continue serving the people of our great state," Gillibrand said.