5 Things To Know About Kathy Hochul, New York's New Governor

NEW YORK STATE — With Andrew Cuomo announcing his resignation Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Kathleen Hochul will take over leadership of the state as New York's 57th governor.

Here are five things to know about Hochul:

1. She will be New York's first woman governor.

Hochul, who was elected as lieutenant governor alongside Cuomo in 2015 and 2018, will serve as the state's first woman leader.

2. She has lots of legislative experience.

Hochul's political career began in 1994 when she was elected onto the Town Board of the Town of Hamburg. She held that position until 2007, when she was appointed Erie County clerk by then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer. She ran for the position later that year and won.

In 2011, Hochul ran in a special election to represent the 26th Congressional District, which she won. In 2012, she ran to represent the redistricted 27th Congressional District, which she lost. In 2014, she was named as Cuomo's running mate for his second term.

3. She's from upstate New York.

Hochul was born and raised in Buffalo. She attended Syracuse University and graduated in 1980. She received her law degree from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C., in 1984. She worked at a law firm in Washington for a short while after her graduation then moved back to New York.

4. She's been busy as lieutenant governor.

Cuomo appointed Hochul to lead multiple statewide task forces during her time as lieutenant governor. She is the co-chair of the state's Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force, and led the "Enough is Enough" campaign to combat sexual assault on college campuses.

Hochul is also the chair of the state's 10 Regional Economic Development Councils, which invests in thousands of projects across the state.

5. She has lots of support as the new governor.

Hochul has received the support of many as she gets ready to take the mantle of governor from Cuomo in two weeks.

"I know our state is in good hands with Lieutenant Governor Hochul at the helm, and I look forward to continuing to work with her," said Attorney General Letitia James.

"New York will finally have its first female governor and we could not be in better hands," said state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs. "From assisting her mother run a transitional domestic violence shelter to helping make the property tax cap permanent, Kathy Hochul has always and relentlessly fought for the people of New York. Her experience at all levels of government – town board member, county clerk, congresswoman, and lieutenant governor, makes her uniquely well-equipped to effectively govern the State at this time. I am confident that incoming Gov. Hochul’s empathy, work ethic and authentic concern for the welfare of its citizens will make her an outstanding governor for our state."