Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Syracuse graduate, to become state’s first female governor

On her Lt. Gov. Twitter feed, Hochul tweeted, “I agree with Governor Cuomo’s decision to step down. It is the right thing to do and in the best interest of New Yorkers. As someone who has served at all levels of government and is next in the line of succession, I am prepared to lead as New York State’s 57th Governor.”

In her time as Lt. Gov., Hochul has made several appearances in Syracuse, including a walking tour of businesses Armory Square in June 2020 as they were starting to reopen following the early pandemic restrictions. She also visited TTM Technologies in September 2020 to announce funding for a workforce-training initiative.

Hochul, a graduate of Syracuse University, was inaugurated as New York’s 77th lieutenant governor on Jan. 1, 2015. Hochul was elected with Gov. Cuomo on Nov. 4, 2014.

Prior to her election, the Buffalo native served as a group vice president for strategic relationships at M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB), serving as liaison for community matters and significant economic development projects, per her biography on the New York State website.

From 2011 to 2013, then U.S. Representative Kathy Hochul served in the House of Representatives for New York’s 26th Congressional District in the Buffalo area. Prior to her time in Congress, Hochul was the highest-ranking female elected official in Erie County while serving as County Clerk from 2007 to 2011. Hochul also served 14 years as a Hamburg Town Councilmember.

Besides her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, Hochul also earned a law degree from Catholic University. Hochul, and her husband, William, have two children, William and Katie.

Hochul’s husband, William, previously served as the U.S. Attorney for New York’s Western District.