Who Is Kathy Hochul, Soon To Be New York's First Woman Governor In 233 Years?
New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins will take over the active duties of Lieutenant Governor from Hochul as she replaces Andrew Cuomo in 14 days.
Who is Kathy Hochul: Ney York governor Andrew Cuomo decided to step down from his post over allegations of sexual harassment on Tuesday. When the 63-year-old leaves office in 14 days, he will be succeeded by Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, who is set to become the first woman Governor of New York in its 233-year-long history.
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Cuomo's current four-year term came to an abrupt end following the state attorney general's investigation that found he sexually harassed multiple women. As lieutenant governor, Hochul will take over from Cuomo in two weeks, according to Reuters. Agreeing with Governor Cuomo's decision to step down, Hochul, 62, wrote on Twitter that it is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers. She also pointed out "as someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in the line of succession", she is well prepared to lead the state as the 57th Governor.
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.
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.
Hochul is a former Democratic congresswoman who is serving as the 77th Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York since 2015. She will act as the Governor of state until December 2022, that's when Cuomo's third 4-year term in office was to end originally. She was elected with Cuomo on November 4, 2014 and served him for nearly seven years. Previously, she worked as a Group Vice President for Strategic Relationships at M&T Bank, serving as liaison for community matters and significant economic development projects.
In the wake of the state attorney general's report last week, Hochul had denounced Cuomo's alleged behavior as "repulsive & unlawful," adding, "I believe these brave women & admire their courage coming forward."
After graduating from law school in Washington in 1984, she worked for a private Washington DC firm and then served as legal counsel and legislative assistant to US Representative John LaFalce. She later joined US Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, as per her official New York state bio. She served 14 years as a town board member in Hamburg, a town more-than-six-hour drive from New York City.
Born and raised in the state, Hochul has a range of political experience with the focus on fighting for the rights of working-class families. She herself is the daughter of working-class parents and is the second-oldest of six children. Married to William Hochul, who is known to have served as the US attorney for the Western District of New York from 2010 to 2016. The couple is blessed with two children.
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Between 2011 and 2013,the then Congresswoman served in the House of Representatives from New York's 26th Congressional District. Her official profile reads that she was a strong voice in the successful fight for a USD 15 minimum wage and paid family leave. "Every day, Kathy is working with the Governor and state legislature to prioritise making lives better for all New York families - because no one working full-time should live in poverty," according to her profile.
While Hochul becomes the first female governor to lead the state, New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins will take on the active duties of lieutenant governor until she names a replacement, and thus two women will hold the state's highest positions for the time being.
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