Kathy Hochul

Kathleen Courtney Hochul (/ˈhoʊkəl/ HOH-kull; born August 27, 1958) is an American politician serving as the 57th governor of New York since 2021. Before becoming governor, she was the lieutenant governor from 2015 to 2021 under Andrew Cuomo. She was also a U.S. Representative for New York's 26th congressional district from 2011 to 2013. Hochul is a member of the Democratic Party.

Kathy Hochul
Hochul in April 2022
57th Governor of New York
Incumbent
Assumed office August 24, 2021
Lieutenant	Brian Benjamin Antonio Delgado
Preceded by	Andrew Cuomo
Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office January 1, 2015 – August 23, 2021
Governor	Andrew Cuomo
Preceded by	Robert Duffy
Succeeded by	Brian Benjamin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 26th district
In office June 1, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Chris Lee
Succeeded by	Chris Collins (redistricting)
8th County Clerk of Erie County
In office April 10, 2007 – June 1, 2011
Preceded by	David Swarts
Succeeded by	Chris Jacobs
Member of the Hamburg Town Board
In office January 3, 1994 – April 10, 2007
Preceded by	Patrick Hoak
Succeeded by	Richard Smith
Personal details
Born	Kathleen Courtney (1958-08-27) August 27, 1958 (age 66) Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Bill Hochul ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	2
Residence	New York State Executive Mansion
Education	Syracuse University (BA) Catholic University (JD)
Signature

Hochul is the state's first female governor and is also the first female governor from Upstate New York.^[1]

Early life

Hochul was born Kathleen Courtney in Buffalo, New York.^[2] She was politically active during her college years at Syracuse University, becoming a student government vice president. She received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in political science from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University in 1980 and a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C., in 1984.^[3]

Governor of New York (2021–present)

On August 10, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation, effective August 24. Cuomo was accused of sexual misconduct.^[4][5]

Hochul was sworn in as governor at 12:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) on August 24, 2021.^[6] Hochul is the state's first female governor.^[6][7] She is also the first New York governor from outside New York City and its immediate suburbs since 1932, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt left office.^[6]

On August 12, Hochul confirmed that she planned to run for a full term as governor in 2022.^[8] She was the first Democrat to announce a 2022 gubernatorial candidacy after Cuomo said he would resign.^[9]

Hochul won a full term in office, defeating Republican nominee Lee Zeldin in the closest New York gubernatorial election since 1994 and the closest Democratic victory since 1982.^[10][11][12] Hochul's election marked the first time a woman was elected governor of New York.^[13]

Personal life

Hochul is married to William J. Hochul Jr., the former United States Attorney for the Western District of New York. They have two children. Hochul is Catholic.^[14]

In 2024, Hochul was diagnosed with basal-cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer.^[15]