United States: Kathy Hochul Becomes New York State's First Woman Governor

Governor Kathy Hochul: A former congresswoman from Buffalo, New York, Kathy Hochul became the 57th governor of the state early Tuesday. She thus created history for being the first woman to ascend to the post. She was sworn in at the State Capitol, Albany by the chief judge of the state, Janet DiFiore, in a private ceremony. Hochul's rise to the position followed untimely resignation of her predecessor Andrew Cuomo over multiple sexual harassment allegations.

The 62-year-old politician assumed office three weeks after a state attorney general investigation reached the conclusion that Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women. following this, the politician announced his resignation. This brought an abrupt end to his 10 year long reign as the governor of New York State. Hochul, also Democrat like Cuomo, has vowed to lead the state through the ongoing pandemic and economic uncertainty.

Talking to told WGRZ-TV, the New York governor said, "I feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders and I will tell New Yorkers I'm up for the task." When asked what she was thinking about while taking the oath, she said that she thought about all the women who came before her. It also included her mother who was not there, but a lot of women through history and she felt they 'passed the torch' to her.

Who is Kathy Hochul?

Hochul has been serving as Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York since 2015. She was elected alongside Cuomo in 2014 and the two went on two work together for seven years. In 2011 she was elected as a congresswoman from New York’s 26th Congressional District.

As Hochul takes over the post of governor, New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins will take on the active duties of lieutenant governor untill she names a replacement. She is married to William Hochul, former US attorney for the Western District of New York.

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