New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in as the state's 57th governor Tuesday, following former Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resignation amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Why it matters: Hochul, a Democrat, is the first woman to serve as governor of New York and will serve out the remainder of Cuomo's term until 2022.
- Nine women now serve as governor in the U.S. — tying with a record set in 2004 and equaled in 2007 and 2019, though this is well short of gender proportionality, AP notes.
- Hochul has already announced her bid for governor in 2022, the first Democrat to do so after Cuomo said he would resign.
- Hochul has vowed that no one will ever call her workplace "toxic," per AP.
Background: Hochul received national attention after winning a special election in 2011 for a New York congressional seat that had not gone to a Democrat in 40 years.
- Hochul later joined Cuomo's gubernatorial ticket as lieutenant governor in 2014, though the two have rarely appeared in public together.
What they're saying: "I'll tell New Yorkers I’m up to the task," Hochul told WGRZ after being sworn in. "And I'm really proud to be able to serve as their governor and I won’t let them down."
- She noted earlier that she has "a different approach to governing," per AP. "I get the job done because I don’t have time for distractions, particularly coming into this position," Hochul added.
- State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said, "She's very experienced and I think she’ll be a refreshing and exciting new governor."
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new comment from Hochul and to include details of the governor's record.