Kathy Hochul

**Kathleen Courtney Hochul** ( ; 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.

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

## Early life

Hochul was born Kathleen Courtney in Buffalo, New York. 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.

## 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.

Hochul was sworn in as governor at 12:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) on August 24, 2021. Hochul is the state's first female governor. 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.

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

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. Hochul's election marked the first time a woman was elected governor of New York.

## 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.

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

## Other websites

- Governor Kathy Hochul official government website
- Kathy Hochul for Governor campaign website
- Congresswoman Kathy Hochul U.S. House website (archived)

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Kathy Hochul
- **image**: Governor Hochul April 2022.jpg
- **caption**: Hochul in April 2022
- **order**: 57th Governor of New York
- **lieutenant**: Brian Benjamin
Antonio Delgado
- **term start**: August 24, 2021
- **predecessor**: Andrew Cuomo
- **office1**: Lieutenant Governor of New York
- **governor1**: Andrew Cuomo
- **term start1**: January 1, 2015
- **term end1**: August 23, 2021
- **predecessor1**: Robert Duffy (politician), Robert Duffy
- **successor1**: Brian Benjamin
- **state2**: New York (state), New York
- **term start2**: June 1, 2011
- **term end2**: January 3, 2013
- **predecessor2**: Chris Lee (New York politician), Chris Lee
- **successor2**: Chris Collins (New York politician), Chris Collins (redistricting)
- **office3**: 8th Municipal clerk, County Clerk of Erie County, New York, Erie County
- **term start3**: April 10, 2007
- **term end3**: June 1, 2011
- **predecessor3**: David Swarts
- **successor3**: Chris Jacobs (politician), Chris Jacobs
- **office4**: Member of the Hamburg, New York#Government, Hamburg Town Board
- **term start4**: January 3, 1994
- **term end4**: April 10, 2007
- **predecessor4**: Patrick Hoak
- **successor4**: Richard Smith
- **birth name**: Kathleen Courtney
- **birth place**: Buffalo, New York, U.S.
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **children**: 2
- **residence**: New York State Executive Mansion
- **education**: Syracuse University (Bachelor of Arts, BA)
Catholic University of America, Catholic University (Juris Doctor, JD)
- **signature**: Kathy Hocul Signature.png