Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kathy Hochul

How Kathy Hochul built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Kathy Hochul is an American politician and lawyer who has served as the 57th governor of New York since 2021. As a member of the Democratic Party, she holds the distinction of being the first female governor of New York.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

1910: First governor from Western New York since 1910

Hochul became the first governor from Western New York since Horace White in 1910.

1922: First governor from north of Hyde Park since 1922

Hochul became the first governor from north of Hyde Park since Nathan L. Miller in 1922.

1932: First governor from outside New York City and its immediate suburbs since 1932

Hochul is the first New York governor from outside New York City and its immediate suburbs since 1932 (when Franklin Delano Roosevelt left office).

1982: Closest Democratic victory since 1982

Hochul won a full term in office, defeating Republican nominee Lee Zeldin in the closest Democratic victory since 1982.

November 1985: Syracuse University divested from South Africa

In November 1985, Syracuse University divested from apartheid South Africa, following Hochul's lobbying efforts.

January 3, 1994: Appointed to Hamburg Town Board

On January 3, 1994, Hochul was appointed to the vacant seat on the Hamburg Town Board.

November 1994: Elected to full term on Hamburg Town Board

In November 1994, Hochul was elected to a full term on the Hamburg Town Board.

1994: Closest NY gubernatorial election since 1994

Hochul won a full term in office, defeating Republican nominee Lee Zeldin in the closest New York gubernatorial election since 1994.

1998: Re-elected to Hamburg Town Board

In 1998, Hochul was re-elected to the Hamburg Town Board.

2002: Re-elected to Hamburg Town Board

In 2002, Hochul was re-elected to the Hamburg Town Board.

May 2003: Appointed as Erie County Clerk's Deputy

In May 2003, Hochul was appointed as the deputy to Erie County Clerk David Swarts.

2006: Re-elected to Hamburg Town Board

In 2006, Hochul was re-elected to the Hamburg Town Board.

January 2007: Swarts appointed to Spitzer administration

In January 2007, Erie County Clerk David Swarts was appointed to Governor Eliot Spitzer's administration.

April 10, 2007: Resigned from Hamburg Town Board

On April 10, 2007, Hochul resigned from the Hamburg Town Board.

April 2007: Appointed as Erie County Clerk

In April 2007, Hochul was appointed to succeed David Swarts as Erie County Clerk.

November 6, 2007: Elected as Erie County Clerk

On November 6, 2007, Hochul was elected to fill the remainder of Swarts's term as Erie County Clerk.

November 14, 2007: Spitzer abandoned effort to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses

On November 14, 2007, Governor Spitzer abandoned his effort to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses after Hochul opposed the proposal.

2007: Appointed Erie County Clerk

In 2007, Hochul was appointed Erie County clerk and later elected to a full term.

2007: Opposition to driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants as Erie County Clerk

In 2007, as Erie County Clerk, Hochul opposed providing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and stated she would seek to have applicants arrested.

November 2010: Reelected as Erie County Clerk

In November 2010, Hochul was reelected as Erie County Clerk, defeating Clifton Bergfeld with 80% of the vote.

2010: Opposition to license plate proposal

During her campaign for Congress, Hochul cited her opposition to Governor David Paterson's 2010 proposal to require vehicle owners to buy new license plates as an example of her independence.

2010: Reelected Erie County Clerk

In 2010, Hochul was reelected as Erie County clerk.

May 2011: Won special election for New York's 26th congressional district

In May 2011, Hochul won a special election for New York's 26th congressional district, becoming the first Democrat to represent the district in 40 years.

May 24, 2011: Ran in special election

On May 24, 2011, Hochul ran in the special election to fill the seat in New York's 26th congressional district.

June 2011: Opposed Funding Cuts for CFTC

In June 2011, Kathy Hochul opposed legislation that would cut funding for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) by 44%.

September 17, 2011: Opposition to Free Trade

On September 17, 2011, Robert J. McCarthy noted that Hochul and her election opponent Jack Davis both opposed free trade, specifically NAFTA. Hochul expressed her willingness to stand up to her own party on this issue.

2011: Support for the Affordable Care Act

In 2011, Hochul expressed support for the Affordable Care Act and stated that she would not vote to repeal it.

2011: Community Involvement

In 2011, Hochul was a member of the board of trustees of Immaculata Academy in Hamburg, New York. She is also a founder of Kathleen Mary House and co-founded the Village Action Coalition.

2011: Support for Raising Taxes

In 2011, while running for Congress, Kathy Hochul supported raising taxes on those making more than $500,000 per year and acknowledged that substantial cuts must be made in the federal budget.

February 2012: Town Hall Meeting Controversy

In February 2012, during a town hall meeting, Hochul faced backlash for her comments regarding the Obama administration's insurance coverage requirement for birth control.

2012: Lost election to Chris Collins

In 2012, Hochul lost the election to Republican Chris Collins after her district was renumbered and redrawn to favor Republicans.

2012: Endorsed by NRA Political Victory Fund

In 2012, Hochul was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund and noted that she was one of only two New York Democrats to receive their support.

2012: Narrowly defeated for reelection

In 2012, Hochul was narrowly defeated for reelection by Chris Collins following redistricting.

2013: End of term as U.S. Representative

In 2013, Hochul's term as a U.S. Representative came to an end.

May 22, 2014: Endorsed for Lieutenant Governor

On May 22, 2014, Hochul was formally endorsed for Lieutenant Governor by the delegates to the state Democratic convention.

2014: Selected as Lieutenant Governor running mate

In 2014, Andrew Cuomo selected Hochul as his running mate for the New York gubernatorial election.

January 1, 2015: Sworn in as Lieutenant Governor

On January 1, 2015, Hochul was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of New York.

2015: Spearheaded "Enough is Enough" campaign

In 2015, Hochul spearheaded Governor Cuomo's "Enough is Enough" campaign to combat sexual assault on college campuses.

March 2016: Named to Women's Suffrage Commission

In March 2016, Cuomo named Hochul to the New York State Women's Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commemoration Commission.

May 30, 2018: Senate Republicans shut down business to avoid tie-breaking vote

On May 30, 2018, Senate Republicans shut down business and pulled all bills for the day when Hochul was prepared to cast a tie-breaking vote on an abortion rights bill, known as the Reproductive Health Act.

June 5, 2018: Presided over veto override

On June 5, 2018, Hochul presided over the Senate chamber when Senate Republicans called for the override of Governor Cuomo's veto of a bill relating to full-day kindergarten classes. The override passed.

July 2018: Called for passage of Reproductive Health Act

In July 2018, Hochul called upon the Republican-led State Senate to reconvene in Albany to pass the Reproductive Health Act.

2018: Reelected as Lieutenant Governor

In 2018, Cuomo and Hochul were reelected in New York.

2018: Supported driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants

In 2018, Hochul supported legislation to provide driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, reversing her previous stance.

January 2019: Reproductive Health Act passed

In January 2019, the Reproductive Health Act was reintroduced and passed with wide margins in the state House and Senate.

August 10, 2021: Cuomo announced resignation

On August 10, 2021, Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation as governor, effective August 24, due to accusations of sexual misconduct. Hochul supported his decision to resign.

August 24, 2021: Took office as Governor of New York

On August 24, 2021, Hochul took office as governor of New York after Cuomo resigned.

August 26, 2021: Appointed Brian Benjamin as Lieutenant Governor

On August 26, 2021, Kathy Hochul appointed State Senator Brian Benjamin as the Lieutenant Governor of New York. She also appointed Karen Persichilli Keogh as secretary to the governor and Kathryn Garcia as director of state operations.

September 9, 2021: Brian Benjamin Sworn In

On September 9, 2021, Brian Benjamin was officially sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor of New York, following his appointment by Kathy Hochul.

October 2021: Endorsed Eric Adams

In October 2021, Kathy Hochul endorsed Eric Adams in the 2021 New York City mayoral election.

November 2021: Pushed to End Remote Work and Offered Plans to Redevelop Pennsylvania Station

In November 2021, Kathy Hochul advocated for ending remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic and returning workers to offices. That same month, Hochul presented her plans to redevelop Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station and the surrounding area, calling for reduced density.

December 2021: Reinstated Indoor Mask Mandate

In December 2021, Kathy Hochul announced the reinstatement of an indoor mask mandate in New York State due to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

2021: Became 57th Governor of New York

In 2021, Hochul became the 57th Governor of New York, making her the first female governor of the state.

January 2022: Expanded Vaccine Mandate and Confirmed Eviction Moratorium Expiration

In January 2022, Kathy Hochul expanded the existing vaccine mandate for healthcare workers to include a booster shot requirement. Also in January 2022, Hochul confirmed that New York's eviction moratorium would expire on January 15. She announced that she would sign a letter with other governors to the federal government requesting more rent assistance.

February 17, 2022: Endorsed for Governor by NY State Democratic Convention

On February 17, 2022, Hochul was endorsed for governor by the New York State Democratic Convention. She had raised $21 million in campaign funds as of that month.

March 2022: Agreement with Buffalo Bills for New Stadium

In March 2022, Kathy Hochul reached an agreement with the Buffalo Bills for taxpayers to pay $850 million for the construction of a new stadium and its maintenance. The agreement was released shortly before the state budget was due. Funding partly came from the Seneca Nation.

April 12, 2022: Brian Benjamin Resigned as Lieutenant Governor

On April 12, 2022, Brian Benjamin resigned from his position as Lieutenant Governor after being indicted on federal charges, including bribery and wire fraud. The alleged crimes occurred during his time as a State Senator.

May 3, 2022: Selected Antonio Delgado as Lieutenant Governor

On May 3, 2022, Kathy Hochul selected U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado to be the new Lieutenant Governor of New York.

June 22, 2022: Announced $300 Million Plan for Western New York Infrastructure

On June 22, 2022, Kathy Hochul announced a $300 million plan to rebuild infrastructure in western New York communities using both public and private funding.

December 28, 2022: Signed the Digital Fair Repair Act

On December 28, 2022, Kathy Hochul signed the Digital Fair Repair Act (Senate bill 4104-A) into law after delaying its signing and adding an amendment that equipment manufacturers "may provide assemblies of parts rather than individual components".

2022: Won full term as governor

In 2022, Hochul won a full term in the election against Lee Zeldin.

2022: Planned to run for a full term as governor

On August 12, 2021, Hochul confirmed that she planned to run for a full term as governor in 2022.

January 1, 2023: Inauguration

On January 1, 2023, Kathy Hochul was officially inaugurated.

April 2023: Consulting Firms Employed for State of the State Address

In April 2023, The New York Times reported that Kathy Hochul employed consulting firms Deloitte and Boston Consulting Group in preparing her State of the State address, which was described as an unusual arrangement.

April 19, 2023: Confirmed Rowan D. Wilson as Chief Judge and Caitlin Halligan as Associate Judge

On April 19, 2023, The New York Senate confirmed Rowan D. Wilson as Chief Judge and Caitlin Halligan as the replacement associate judge for Wilson, after Hochul's original nominee was rejected.

July 2023: Civil Service Exam Fees Waived

In July 2023, Governor Hochul waived exam application fees for all New York State civil service exams through the end of 2025 to address a statewide workforce shortage.

December 2023: Vetoed Legislation to Ban Non-Compete Agreements

In December 2023, Kathy Hochul vetoed legislation aimed at banning non-compete agreements, following lobbying efforts from business interests. Labor groups supported the bill, arguing against the harmful effects of such agreements on workers.

2023: Advocacy for Migrant Work Permits

In 2023, Hochul advocated for the federal government to expedite work permits for migrants to address immigration and workforce crises in New York.

March 2024: Deployed National Guard to NYC Subway System

In March 2024, Kathy Hochul, in coordination with Eric Adams, instituted a policy to deploy 750 National Guard soldiers to the NYC subway system with the power to conduct random bag checks. She also proposed legislation to allow judges to ban criminals from riding the subway.

June 2024: Indefinitely Halted Congestion Pricing Plan

In June 2024, Kathy Hochul indefinitely halted the implementation of a congestion pricing plan for Manhattan just weeks before it was set to begin. She later revived the plan in November 2024 with reduced charges, to be implemented on January 5, 2025.

June 2024: Proposed Banning Face Masks on NYC Subway

In June 2024, Kathy Hochul proposed banning face masks on the New York City Subway in response to groups of protesters allegedly engaging in antisemitic acts. The proposal drew criticism from organizations like the New York Civil Liberties Union.

July 2024: Announced Intention to Run for Reelection in 2026

In July 2024, Kathy Hochul stated her intention to run for reelection as governor in 2026.

September 2024: Signed The Retail Worker Safety Act

In September 2024, Kathy Hochul signed The Retail Worker Safety Act into law.

December 2024: Vetoed Casino Licensing Bill and Capped EpiPen Costs

In December 2024, Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill that would expedite casino licensing in Queens and signed a law capping out-of-pocket costs for EpiPens at $100 yearly.

2024: Impact of Tariffs

In 2024, Hochul stated that tariffs imposed during Donald Trump's second term cost New York families $4,200 a year while reducing Canadian tourism by 400,000 visitors from 2024 to 2025.

January 5, 2025: Congestion Pricing implemented

On January 5, 2025, the congestion pricing was implemented with the charge for most passenger vehicles reduced from $15 to $9.

January 2025: Proposed Free Tuition for SUNY and CUNY Associate Degrees

In January 2025, Kathy Hochul announced a proposal to provide free tuition for specific associate degree programs at State and City University of New York (SUNY and CUNY) schools.

February 12, 2025: Lawsuit over Immigration Handling

On February 12, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice was suing Hochul and other New York officials over their handling of immigration issues.

April 2025: Lawsuit Against Federal Government

In April 2025, New York and 11 other states sued the federal government to block the tariffs.

September 14, 2025: Endorsed Zohran Mamdani

On September 14, 2025, Kathy Hochul endorsed Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani in the general election.

December 2025: Memorandum of Understanding with Ontario for Nuclear Energy

In December 2025, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Kathy Hochul signed a memorandum of understanding to have the New York Power Authority and Ontario Power Generation collaborate on advancing nuclear energy technology.

2025: Civil Service Exam Fees Waived

In July 2023, Governor Hochul waived exam application fees for all New York State civil service exams through the end of 2025 to address a statewide workforce shortage.

January 8, 2026: Announced Plan to Increase Childcare Spending

On January 8, 2026, Zohran Mamdani and Kathy Hochul announced a plan to increase spending by $1.7 billion to provide universal pre-kindergarten statewide and universal 3K care in New York City, create a free childcare program for two-year-olds in New York City, and expand childcare subsidies.