History of Kathy Hochul in Timeline

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Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the 57th Governor of New York, a position she has held since 2021. As a member of the Democratic Party, her ascent to the governorship marks a historic milestone as she is the first woman to hold that office in New York.

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 NYC Since 1932

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

August 27, 1958: Kathleen Courtney Hochul's Birth

On August 27, 1958, Kathleen Courtney Hochul was born. She is an American politician and lawyer.

Others born on this day/year

1979: Received an 'A' from The Daily Orange

In the spring of 1979, The Daily Orange awarded Kathy Hochul an "A" grade for campus changes.

1980: Graduated from Syracuse University

In 1980, Kathy Hochul graduated from Syracuse University.

1980: Received Bachelor of Arts

In 1980, Kathy Hochul received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

1982: Closest Democratic Victory since 1982

The 2022 gubernatorial election was the closest Democratic victory since 1982.

1984: Received Juris Doctor

In 1984, Kathy Hochul received a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C.

January 3, 1994: Appointed to Hamburg Town Board

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

November 1994: Elected to Hamburg Town Board

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

1994: Narrowest NY Gubernatorial Election Since 1994

The 2022 election was the narrowest New York gubernatorial election since 1994.

1994: Closest Election Since 1994

The 2022 gubernatorial election was the closest New York gubernatorial election since 1994.

1998: Reelected to Hamburg Town Board

In 1998, Kathy Hochul was reelected to the Hamburg Town Board.

2002: Reelected to Hamburg Town Board

In 2002, Kathy Hochul was reelected to the Hamburg Town Board.

May 2003: Appointed as Deputy Erie County Clerk

In May 2003, David Swarts, Erie County Clerk, appointed Kathy Hochul as his deputy.

2006: Reelected to Hamburg Town Board

In 2006, Kathy Hochul was reelected to the Hamburg Town Board.

January 2007: Swarts Named to Spitzer's Administration

In January 2007, Governor Eliot Spitzer named Erie County Clerk David Swarts to his administration.

April 10, 2007: Resigned from Hamburg Town Board

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

April 2007: Appointed Erie County Clerk

In April 2007, Governor Eliot Spitzer appointed Kathy Hochul to succeed David Swarts as Erie County Clerk.

November 6, 2007: Elected to Fill Remainder of Swarts's Term

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

November 14, 2007: Spitzer Abandoned Driver's License Effort

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

2007: Appointed Erie County Clerk

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

2007: Opposed Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

In 2007, as Erie County Clerk, Kathy Hochul opposed legislation to provide driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

November 2010: Reelected as Erie County Clerk

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

2010: Opposed New York License Plate Mandate

In 2010, Kathy Hochul opposed a New York proposal mandating that all drivers obtain new license plates, which was subsequently withdrawn.

2010: Reelected Erie County Clerk

In 2010, Kathy Hochul was reelected as Erie County clerk.

2010: Opposed License Plate Proposal

While campaigning for Congress, Kathy Hochul cited her opposition to Governor David Paterson's 2010 proposal to raise revenue by requiring all vehicle owners to buy new license plates as an example of her independence.

May 2011: Won Special Election for NY's 26th Congressional District

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

June 2011: Opposed Funding Cuts for Commodity Futures Trading Commission

In June 2011, Kathy Hochul opposed legislation that would cut funding for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) by 44%, arguing it would benefit big oil companies and speculators at the expense of consumers.

September 17, 2011: Hochul Opposes Free Trade Agreements

On September 17, 2011, Robert J. McCarthy noted that Hochul and her election opponent Jack Davis both opposed free trade. Hochul stated her opposition to new free trade agreements under consideration and believes that agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA have suppressed U.S. wages and caused job loss.

2011: Hochul's Community Involvement

As of 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, a transitional home for women and children who are victims of domestic violence, and co-founded the Village Action Coalition.

2011: Favored Incentives for Alternative Energy

During her 2011 congressional campaign, Hochul favored offering incentives to develop alternative energy.

2011: Hochul Expresses Support for Affordable Care Act

In 2011, Hochul expressed her support for the Affordable Care Act passed by the 111th Congress and stated during her campaign that she would not vote to repeal it.

2011: Endorsements and Funding

In 2011, Kathy Hochul was endorsed by EMILY's List and received significant funding from them. She was also endorsed by The Democrat and Chronicle and The Buffalo News.

2011: Support for Tax Increases on High Earners and Consideration of Budget Cuts

While running for Congress in 2011, Hochul supported raising taxes on those making more than $500,000 per year and acknowledged the need for substantial cuts in the federal budget, considering cuts in all entitlement programs.

February 2012: Hochul Booed at Town Hall Meeting

In February 2012, during a town hall meeting, Hochul was booed for stating that the federal government was "not looking to the Constitution" regarding the Obama administration's requirement for employers to provide insurance coverage for birth control. A spokesman later said she had misspoken.

2012: Endorsed by the NRA

In 2012, Kathy Hochul "trumpeted" her endorsement by the NRA and noted that she was one of two New York Democrats to receive its support.

2012: Defeated for Reelection

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

2012: Lost Election to Chris Collins

In 2012, after redistricting, Kathy Hochul lost to Republican Chris Collins, despite an endorsement from the NRA Political Victory Fund.

2013: End of Term as U.S. Representative

In 2013, Kathy Hochul's service as a U.S. representative ended.

May 22, 2014: Endorsed for Lieutenant Governor

On May 22, 2014, Kathy Hochul was formally endorsed for lieutenant governor by the delegates to the state Democratic convention.

2014: Selected as Lieutenant Governor Nominee

In 2014, Andrew Cuomo selected Kathy Hochul as his running mate for the New York gubernatorial election, leading to her inauguration as lieutenant governor after their victory.

January 1, 2015: Sworn in as Lieutenant Governor

On January 1, 2015, Kathy Hochul was sworn in as lieutenant governor of New York.

2015: Spearheaded "Enough is Enough" Campaign

In 2015, Kathy 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, Governor Cuomo named Kathy Hochul to the New York State Women's Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commemoration Commission.

May 30, 2018: Senate Republicans Shut Down Business

On May 30, 2018, Senate Republicans shut down business when Kathy Hochul entered the Senate chamber prepared to cast a tie-breaking vote on an abortion rights bill.

June 5, 2018: Presided over Senate Veto Override

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

July 2018: Called for Senate to Reconvene

In July 2018, Kathy Hochul called upon the Republican-led State Senate to reconvene to pass the Reproductive Health Act, citing the potential confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh.

2018: Defeated Jumaane Williams

In 2018, Kathy Hochul defeated Jumaane Williams in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor of New York and was reelected as Lieutenant Governor.

2018: Supported Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

In 2018, Kathy Hochul supported legislation to provide driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, reversing her stance from 2007 when she opposed it.

2018: Re-elected as Lieutenant Governor

In 2018, Kathy Hochul was re-elected as lieutenant governor alongside Governor Andrew Cuomo.

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.

2019: Approval of Congestion Pricing Plan

In 2019, the congestion pricing plan was approved.

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. Kathy Hochul praised his decision.

August 2021: Potential Conflict of Interest Reported

In August 2021, reports surfaced about a potential conflict of interest between Kathy Hochul's role as governor and her husband's executive position at Delaware North.

August 24, 2021: Became Governor of New York

On August 24, 2021, Kathy Hochul took office as governor of New York following Andrew Cuomo's resignation.

August 24, 2021: Sworn in as Governor

On August 24, 2021, Kathy Hochul was sworn in as governor of New York, becoming the state's first female governor.

August 26, 2021: Hochul Appoints Brian Benjamin as Lieutenant Governor

On August 26, 2021, Kathy Hochul appointed State Senator Brian Benjamin as the Lieutenant Governor of New York.

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.

November 2021: Hochul Pushes to End Remote Work

In November 2021, Hochul advocated for ending remote work arrangements put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic and urged workers to return to their offices. She also proposed plans to redevelop Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station area, aiming to reduce density.

December 2021: Hochul Reinstates Indoor Mask Mandate

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

2021: Became Governor of New York

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

January 2022: Expansion of Vaccine Mandate and Eviction Moratorium Expiration

In January 2022, Hochul expanded the existing vaccine mandate for healthcare workers to include a booster shot requirement. Also in January 2022, she confirmed that New York's eviction moratorium would expire on January 15 and requested additional rent assistance from the federal government.

February 17, 2022: Endorsed for Governor

On February 17, 2022, the New York State Democratic Convention endorsed Kathy Hochul for governor.

March 2022: Agreement Reached for New Buffalo Bills Stadium

In March 2022, Kathy Hochul reached an agreement to allocate $850 million in taxpayer money for the construction of a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills, marking the largest taxpayer contribution ever for an NFL facility.

April 12, 2022: Brian Benjamin Resigns as Lieutenant Governor

On April 12, 2022, Brian Benjamin resigned from his position as Lieutenant Governor of New York after being indicted on federal charges, including bribery and wire fraud, allegedly committed during his time in the State Senate.

May 3, 2022: Antonio Delgado Selected as Lieutenant Governor

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

June 22, 2022: $300 Million Plan to Rebuild Infrastructure

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

December 28, 2022: Signing of the Digital Fair Repair Act

On December 28, 2022, Hochul signed the Digital Fair Repair Act into law, but with amendments that independent repair analysts claim undermine its purpose, after delaying it allegedly due to lobbying efforts.

2022: Won Full Term as Governor

In 2022, Kathy Hochul won a full term in the New York gubernatorial election.

2022: Lawsuit Against Health Policy

In 2022, a citizens' group and state legislators sued Hochul over a state department of health policy that allowed for the potential involuntary detention of individuals suspected of exposure to contagious illnesses. A New York Supreme Court Justice ruled against Hochul on the grounds of unconstitutionality.

2022: Planned to Run for Governor

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

January 1, 2023: Hochul Inaugurated

On January 1, 2023, Kathy Hochul was inaugurated as Governor of New York.

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

In April 2023, it was reported that Kathy Hochul employed consulting firms Deloitte and Boston Consulting Group in preparing her State of the State address, a practice considered unusual.

April 19, 2023: Confirmation of Rowan D. Wilson as Chief Judge

On April 19, 2023, the New York Senate confirmed Rowan D. Wilson as chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals, and Caitlin Halligan as associate judge, after Hochul's initial nominee was rejected.

July 2023: Hochul Waives Civil Service Exam Fees

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 and make it easier to join the state workforce.

October 7, 2023: Hamas Attack on Israel

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel.

December 2023: Veto of Non-Compete Agreement Ban

In December 2023, Governor Hochul vetoed legislation that would have banned non-compete agreements, amid lobbying from business interests.

2023: Hochul Advocates for Expedited Work Permits for Migrants

In 2023, Hochul advocated for the federal government to expedite work permits for migrants to address a surge of immigration to New York. She wrote to President Joe Biden, stating that allowing migrants to work legally would address both the humanitarian and workforce crises.

February 2024: Remarks on Israeli Invasion of Gaza and Subsequent Apology

In February 2024, during the Israeli invasion of Gaza, Kathy Hochul made controversial remarks implying support for Israel's actions at a United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York event, followed by an apology for her "inappropriate analogy".

March 2024: Deployment of National Guard to NYC Subway System

In March 2024, Governor Hochul instituted a policy in coordination with Eric Adams to deploy 750 National Guard soldiers to the New York City subway system, empowering them to conduct random bag checks on subway-goers. She also proposed legislation to allow judges to ban criminals from riding the subway.

May 2024: Controversial Remarks About Minority Children in the Bronx

In May 2024, Kathy Hochul faced criticism for stating at a business conference that minority children growing up in the Bronx "don't even know what the word 'computer' is," for which she later apologized.

June 2024: Proposal to Ban Face Masks on NYC Subway

In June 2024, Governor Hochul proposed banning face masks on the New York City Subway, citing concerns about protesters using them to conceal their identities during antisemitic acts. The proposal has faced criticism for potentially targeting protesters and people of color.

June 2024: Hochul Halts Congestion Pricing Plan

In June 2024, Kathy Hochul indefinitely halted the implementation of a congestion pricing plan for Manhattan, which had been expected to generate $1 billion annually for the MTA. The decision led to widespread backlash and she proposed raising the city's payroll tax for business owners to cover the lost revenue.

July 2024: Hochul Announces Intent to Run for Reelection

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

September 2024: Signing of The Retail Worker Safety Act

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

November 2024: Congestion Pricing Plan Revived with Toll Hikes

In November 2024, Kathy Hochul revived the congestion pricing plan with toll hikes. The plan was implemented on January 5, 2025.

December 2024: Veto of Casino Licensing Bill and EpiPen Cost Cap

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

2024: Hochul Diagnosed with Basal-Cell Carcinoma

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

January 5, 2025: Congestion Pricing Plan Implemented

On January 5, 2025, The congestion pricing plan, revived in November 2024 by Kathy Hochul, was implemented.

January 2025: Proposal for Free Tuition at SUNY and CUNY

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 schools.

February 12, 2025: Department of Justice Sues Hochul Over Immigration Issues

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

February 2025: Refusal of Extradition Request in Abortion Pill Case

In February 2025, Kathy Hochul refused an extradition request from Louisiana for a New York doctor indicted for mailing abortion pills.

2026: Hochul intends to run for re-election.

In 2026, Kathy Hochul intends to run for re-election as governer.