Kathy Hochul facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathy Hochul
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Hochul in 2024
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| 57th Governor of New York | |
| Assumed office August 24, 2021 |
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| Lieutenant |
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| Preceded by | Andrew Cuomo |
| Lieutenant Governor of New York | |
| In office January 1, 2015 – August 23, 2021 |
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| Governor | Andrew Cuomo |
| Preceded by | Robert Duffy |
| Succeeded by | Andrea Stewart-Cousins (acting) |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 26th district |
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| In office June 1, 2011 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Chris Lee |
| Succeeded by | Chris Collins (redistricting) |
| 8th Clerk of Erie County | |
| In office April 10, 2007 – June 1, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | David Swarts |
| Succeeded by | Chris Jacobs |
| Member of the Hamburg Town Board | |
| In office January 3, 1994 – April 10, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick Hoak |
| Succeeded by | Richard Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Kathleen Courtney
August 27, 1958 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Bill Hochul
(m. 1984) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | New York Executive Mansion |
| Education |
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| Signature |  |
Kathleen Hochul ( HOH-kəl; born August 27, 1958) is an American politician and lawyer. Since August 2021, she has served as the 57th governor of New York. She is the first woman to hold this important position in New York.
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Early Life and Education
Kathy Hochul was born Kathleen Courtney in Buffalo, New York. She was the second of six children. Her family faced financial challenges when she was young. For a while, they even lived in a trailer. Later, her father worked for and led an information technology company. Her family has Irish Catholic roots.
Hochul became active in politics during her college years at Syracuse University. She led a boycott against the student bookstore because of high prices. She also worked to get the university to stop investing in companies that supported apartheid in South Africa. This was a system of racial separation. In 1979, the student newspaper praised her for making changes on campus. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Syracuse University in 1980. She then got her law degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1984.
Beginning Her Political Journey
After law school, Hochul worked for a law firm in Washington, D.C. However, she found this work unfulfilling. She then became a legal advisor and assistant for U.S. Representative John LaFalce and U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan. She also worked for the New York State Assembly before running for office herself.
Hochul became involved in local issues. She supported small businesses that were struggling against large stores like Walmart. This work caught the attention of local Democratic leaders. On January 3, 1994, she was appointed to the Hamburg Town Board. She won a full term in November 1994 and was reelected several times. While on the board, she worked to remove toll booths on parts of the New York State Thruway.
In 2007, she became the Clerk of Erie County. This role made her more known across the state. She disagreed with a proposal to allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses. She was reelected as county clerk in 2007 and again in 2010.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2013)
In 2011, Kathy Hochul was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She represented New York's 26th district. In her first weeks, she worked on bills to make getting passports easier. She also met with then-President Barack Obama to discuss the economy and creating jobs.
Hochul focused on reducing the federal budget deficit. She supported cutting Medicaid spending. However, she did not want these cuts to harm states. She also talked with President Obama about ending tax breaks for oil companies. She wanted to protect small businesses.
While running for Congress, Hochul described herself as an "independent Democrat." She showed her independence by opposing certain proposals from New York governors. These included a driver's license program for undocumented immigrants and a plan to require new license plates.
Lieutenant Governor of New York (2015–2021)
After leaving Congress, Hochul worked for M&T Bank in Buffalo. In 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo chose Hochul to be his running mate for lieutenant governor. She was formally endorsed by the state Democratic convention.
In September 2014, Cuomo and Hochul won their primary elections. They then won the general election in November. Hochul became the Lieutenant Governor of New York on January 1, 2015.
As lieutenant governor, Hochul led 10 regional economic development councils. These councils aimed to create plans to improve the economy in different parts of New York. In 2018, Hochul supported a law to give driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. This was a change from her earlier view in 2007.
She also played a role in the State Senate. In 2018, she oversaw a vote that overturned a governor's veto for the first time during Cuomo's term. In 2018, she urged the State Senate to pass the Reproductive Health Act. This act was passed in January 2019.
Governor of New York (2021–Present)
On August 10, 2021, Andrew Cuomo announced he would resign as governor. Kathy Hochul was sworn in as governor at midnight on August 24, 2021. She made history as New York's first female governor.
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In November 2021, Hochul encouraged people to return to their offices. This was part of her effort to end remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also shared plans to redevelop Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan.
In December 2021, she brought back an indoor mask mandate. This was to help stop the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. In January 2022, she expanded a vaccine rule for healthcare workers. She also confirmed that New York's eviction ban would end.
In March 2022, Hochul reached an agreement with the Buffalo Bills football team. Taxpayers would help pay for a new stadium. This was a large amount of money for a National Football League facility. In June 2022, she announced a $300 million plan. This plan would rebuild infrastructure in western New York.
In June 2024, Hochul paused a plan for congestion pricing in Manhattan. This plan would have charged drivers to enter busy parts of the city. It was expected to bring in $1 billion per year for public transportation. Her decision caused a lot of discussion. In November 2024, she brought back the congestion pricing plan with lower tolls. It started on January 5, 2025.
In July 2024, Hochul stated that she plans to run for governor again in 2026.
Political Views
Trade and the Economy
Kathy Hochul has often spoken about her views on trade. She has said that she opposes free trade agreements. She believes that agreements like NAFTA have led to lower wages and job losses in the U.S. She has stated that she is willing to disagree with her own political party on this issue.
During her congressional campaign, Hochul supported raising taxes on very high earners. She also believes that the federal budget needs significant cuts. However, she has opposed plans that would change Medicare into a voucher system. She thinks money can be saved in Medicare by reducing waste. She also believes that creating more jobs would help programs like Medicare and Social Security. This is because more people would be paying taxes.
In July 2023, Hochul removed exam fees for state civil service jobs. This was to help more people join the state workforce.
Energy and Environment
Hochul supports offering incentives to develop alternative energy sources. These are energy sources that are not fossil fuels. In 2011, she opposed cutting funding for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). She believed the CFTC helps control oil prices. She thought cuts would make it easier for large oil companies to take advantage of consumers.
Healthcare and Immigration
Hochul has supported the Affordable Care Act. This law aims to make healthcare more accessible. She said she would not vote to repeal it.
In 2023, Hochul asked the federal government to speed up work permits for migrants in New York. She believes that allowing migrants to work legally would help both the humanitarian crisis and the state's workforce shortage.
Personal Life
Kathy Hochul is married to William J. Hochul Jr.. He is a former U.S. Attorney. He also works as a senior vice president for Delaware North, a company involved in hospitality and gambling. They have two children together. Hochul is a Catholic.
She is a founder of Kathleen Mary House. This is a home for women and children who have experienced domestic violence. She has also served on the board of this organization. In 2024, Hochul was diagnosed with basal-cell carcinoma, a common type of skin cancer.
See also
In Spanish: Kathy Hochul para niños
- List of current United States governors
- List of female governors in the United States
- List of female lieutenant governors in the United States
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
