Kathy Hochul is the current Governor of New York, having assumed office in August 2021. She is the first woman to hold the state's highest executive position.
Born Kathleen Courtney in Buffalo, New York, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University in 1980 and a Juris Doctor from Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law in 1984. Her early career included work as a legal counsel and legislative assistant in Washington D.C., followed by service on the Hamburg Town Board.
Hochul's political career progressed through local and federal offices. She served as the Erie County Clerk from 2007 to 2011, where she gained recognition for opposing a plan to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. In 2011, she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for New York's 26th congressional district, serving one term until 2013.
In 2014, Hochul was selected as the running mate for then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, and they were elected Lieutenant Governor and Governor, respectively. She served as Lieutenant Governor from 2015 until Cuomo's resignation in August 2021, at which point she automatically ascended to the governorship. As Governor, she has focused on issues such as economic development, infrastructure, and public health, notably navigating the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts. She successfully ran for a full term as Governor in 2022.Profile generated 7/14/2026 · Compiled from public web sources.
