So you're wondering "who is the new governor of NY"? Honestly, when Cuomo resigned, I was scrambling too. Governor Kathy Hochul took charge back in August 2021, but even now folks at my local Brooklyn diner still debate her background. Let's cut through the noise.
Kathy Hochul's Journey to Albany
Born Kathy Courtney in Buffalo (fun fact: she still lives in a suburb there), she didn't grow up political royalty. Her dad worked at a steel plant, mom sold appliances. She told The Buffalo News she learned politics handing out flyers at age 13. That blue-collar start shows – sometimes painfully. At a Queens fundraiser last year, she awkwardly tried discussing subway delays with transit workers. Well-intentioned? Absolutely. Smooth? Nope.
| Political Milestone | Year | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Hamburg Town Board | 1994 | First elected position |
| Erie County Clerk | 2007-2011 | Denied driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants (later reversed) |
| U.S. Congress (NY-26) | 2011-2013 | Won special election focusing on Medicare |
| Lieutenant Governor | 2015-2021 | Visited all 62 NY counties annually |
Remember that 2011 congressional win? She flipped a Republican seat by opposing Paul Ryan's Medicare plan. Smart politics, but it lasted just one term. When Cuomo picked her as running mate in 2014, critics called her a "prop" for geographic balance. Ouch.
Personal Life: Not Your Typical Albany Insider
Married since 1984 to Bill Hochul (now NYS general counsel – awkward much?). Their son Will does cannabis policy work (while she oversees legalization rollout). Daughter Katie works in education. That family dynamic caused tension during teacher vaccine mandate debates last winter.
Key Transition Dates:
August 24, 2021: Hochul sworn in at midnight
September 14, 2021: First legislative address
November 8, 2022: Elected to full term (53.2% of vote)
Policy Shifts: Breaking from the Cuomo Era
Unlike Cuomo's top-down style, Hochul's governing feels...scattered. Her COVID approach? "Let localities decide." Affordable housing? "Incentives over mandates." Some days I wonder if she's pragmatic or just indecisive.
| Issue Area | Cuomo Approach | Hochul Approach | My Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| COVID Mandates | Statewide orders | County-level decisions | Messy but flexible |
| Buffalo Bills Stadium | Private funding | $850M public funding | Taxpayer ripoff |
| Ethics Reform | JCOPE oversight | New ethics commission | Same swamp, new name |
| MTA Funding | City-state battles | Pushing NYC to pay more | Will start subway wars |
Her $850M Bills stadium deal still ticks me off. Private owners getting public cash? Come on. But I'll give credit where due – she axed Cuomo's Penn Station redesign day one. Saved taxpayers billions.
Controversies You Should Know About
That $637M "no-bid" COVID test contract to Digital Gadgets? Smelled rotten. Turns out the owner donated $300k to her campaign. Hochul denies wrongdoing, but it stings. Worse, her appointee to chief judge got rejected by legislators twice. Embarrassing.
Daily Governing Realities
Wanna know what the new governor of NY actually does? Forget ceremonial ribbons. Her days look like this:
- 7:30 AM - Buffalo/NYC policy calls (timezone juggling)
- 10:00 AM - Staff briefing on legislative fires
- 12:00 PM - Lunch meetings with county execs (always salad)
- 3:00 PM - Press conferences (avoids Cuomo-style lecterns)
- 7:00 PM - Fundraisers ($6,000/plate dinners)
Her security detail costs $21M/year – triple Cuomo's. Why? After Jan 6, she gets threats daily. Chilling reality.
Where She Stands on Hot-Button Issues
Ask ten New Yorkers "who is the new governor of NY policy-wise?" You’ll get eleven answers. Here's the breakdown:
Crime & Bail Reform
She tweaked bail laws (again) last summer. Cops cheered. Progressives booed. Stats show mixed results:
| County | 2021 Violent Crime | 2022 Violent Crime | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 15,782 | 16,409 | +4% |
| Erie | 4,305 | 4,101 | -5% |
| Suffolk | 3,877 | 4,216 | +9% |
Bottom line? Hochul’s playing centrist. Wants NYPD happy but won't dump bail reform. Treading water.
Housing Crisis Moves
Her "New York Housing Compact" demands downstate towns add 3% housing every 3 years. Sounds bold until you see the opt-outs. My prediction? Wealthy suburbs will dodge it.
FAQs About New York's Governor
How long will Hochul remain governor?
Her term runs through 2026. But scandals could shorten it. Remember Eliot Spitzer?
Is she running for president?
Not officially. But those Iowa trips look suspicious. Personally, I doubt it – her national name recognition stinks.
Why does her accent change?
Buffalo twang downstate, polished tone upstate. All politicians do it. (Yes, I roll my eyes too.)
Who becomes governor if she leaves?
Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado – ex-congressman, Rhodes scholar. Interesting backup.
Does she have Cuomo's temper?
Staffers tell me she’s calmer but obsessive about punctuality. Late arrivals get death stares.
Looking Ahead: Challenges & Predictions
With a shaky Democratic majority, she’s struggling. That $227B budget passed 17 days late this year. Why? Assembly fights over school funding. Patience wears thin.
Migrant crisis costs? Ballooning past $1B. Property taxes? Still crushing upstate families. Meanwhile, her approval rating floats around 45% – lukewarm at best.
So when folks ask "who is the new governor of NY?", I say: A transitional figure. Not revolutionary. Not corrupt. Just...managing. And in today's New York, maybe that's enough. For now.
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