Politics with Nolan: Governor Hochul

By Nolan Cleary, Editor-In-Chief

The state of New York looks to its new Governor as the now-former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigns from office following the release of a report from State Attorney General Letitia James claiming that he allegedly sexually harassed women that worked for him.

Kathy Hochul succeeds Cuomo as the 57th Governor of New York. Unlike Cuomo, whose last name is largely famous in New York politics, Hochul remains largely a political unknown. 

Unlike most major New York politicians, Hochul isn’t from New York City but is rather an upstate native from Buffalo. Hochul served in multiple political positions before coming to prominence in 2011 when she was elected to serve in Congress in an upset. 

Hochul was highly expected to lose in the heavily conservative Erie County but won thanks to vote-splitting between the Republican candidate and a conservative independent who also ran. 

In Congress, Hochul was known for bucking her own party. She was one of just 17 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives who voted to investigate Democratic U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for his role in a gun-walking scandal. In 2012, when running for re-election, she bragged about the fact that she was endorsed by the NRA, over the Republican she ran against. 

Despite this, Hochul served less than two years in the United States House of Representatives, as she was narrowly defeated for re-election in 2012. Following this, Hochul retired from politics instead of joining the private sector as an executive for M&T Bank. 

That retirement quickly came to an end in 2014 when the former Governor Andrew Cuomo required a new Lieutenant Governor. In hopes of trying to galvanize upstate voters, Cuomo announced Hochul would be his running mate going into the 2014 New York gubernatorial election. 

Together, the two defeated Republican Rob Astorino. Hochul largely remained behind the scenes during her first term in the position, but faced a tough match for re-election in 2018, when she was primaried for the job by progressive New York City Councilman Jumaane Williams. 

Williams challenged Hochul in a bitter fight. In the end, Hochul narrowly prevailed, and together with Cuomo, defeated Republican Marc Molinaro in the general election. 

Now, Hochul becomes the first woman to ever hold the position of New York’s Governor. At Hudson Valley Community College, Hochul enters largely a political unknown. 

Daryn Curry, a student in individual studies said she’s happy to see the state have a woman hold the top job for the first time, but said she’s unfamiliar with many of Hochul’s policies. 

“I’m really happy that we have a female Governor. I think that’s amazing for women in general, but I don’t know her policies yet,” Curry said. 

Salem Agos, who’s studying to be a dental hygienist, also said she knows very little about Hochul. “I haven’t really heard what she wanted to do or what her promises were,” Agos said. 

Jake Paniccia, currently taking a business major said the idea of a woman Governor is a big milestone, but that Hochul should be judged by her record, not her gender. 

“I mean, it’s great. We should be open-minded. Just because she’s a woman doesn’t mean she’ll necessarily be a great Governor. I want her to be a good Governor because she does good things, not just because she doesn’t good things,”

Paniccia said. 

Hochul is currently running to continue serving as Governor next year. However, winning her party’s nomination may not be easy. Several key Democrats are reportedly considering taking on Hochul in next year’s gubernatorial primary, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, who would be the first black woman to ever serve as Governor in any American state if elected. James released the infamous report that forced Cuomo to resign from office. 

Controversial New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has been all but quiet about the possibility of him running, as has New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Other rumored names include local Congressman Antonio Delgado and even Hillary Clinton. 

Some pundits believe the divide between progressive Democrats and moderates in the party may cause some Democrats to primary the more independent-minded Hochul. 

Recently in New York City’s Mayoral primary, Eric Adams, a moderate who’s been a vocal critic of “Defund the Police” won the Democratic primary for Mayor. On the other hand, in Buffalo, Hochul’s home city, India Walton, a self-described “Democratic Socialist” recently won her party’s primary for Mayor, defeating a long-time moderate incumbent. 

Most students at HVCC however said they’d favor a moderate over a progressive. Ryan Tomchik, a student in individual studies said as an independent leaning voter, he’d prefer a candidate that wasn’t too extreme. 

“I think if someone wasn’t far left or far right, just someone who could to the middle and make everyone happy, that would be best,” Tomchik said. “I think we need someone that can stand for the middle and bring both sides together.”

Kiley Danforth, a student in criminal justice said she wants Hochul to do away with bail reform. Jasper Marynczak, a student studying construction and maintenance said he hopes Hochul provides financial aid in her time as Governor.