(ALBANY, NY) – At midnight Tuesday, Kathy Hochul, became governor of New York, after the ouster of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, leading to his resignation effective the same day. She holds the distinction of being the first female governor in the history of the State of New York.
Hochul served as Lieutenant Governor of New York prior to taking on the top job in the state’s government, after endorsing Cuomo’s decision to resign rather than face an impeachment trial.
It is notably symbolic that his replacement is a woman, and the first female governor, after scandals related to his treatment of women in the office contributed to his precipitous fall from grace in New York politics.
In an interview with a Buffalo television station, Hochul said she felt “the weight of responsibility” on her shoulders, and said what she’ll tell residents of the Empire State:
“I’ll tell New Yorkers I’m up to the task. And I’m really proud to be able to serve as their governor and I won’t let them down.”
The governor emphasized Tuesday that above all she wants to restore trust in the government after over a year of unrest, uncertainty, and social and civil failures, both present and past come to light amid the turmoil of the last year.
