Topical 6 challenges Kathy Hochul will face immediately as governor By Tom Precious News Albany Bureau Chief Aug 10, 2021 Aug 10, 2021 Updated Mar 5, 2026 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ALBANY – When Kathy Hochul becomes the 57th governor of New York this month, she will do so at an extraordinary moment in the state's history.kAm{625:?8 E96 DE2E6 E9C@F89 E96 A2?56>:4 2D E96 s6=E2 G2C:2?E 92D FA6?565 H92E E96 AF3=:4 – 2?5 D4:6?E:DED – E9@F89E E96J <?6H 23@FE r@G:5\`h H@F=5 36 6?@F89 E@ <66A 2?J 49:67 6I64FE:G6 3FDJ]k^AmkAm%9C@H :? D@4:2= FA962G2=[ 2 A@=2C:K65 A@AF=246[ 9@H E@ 32=2?46 2 Sa__ 3:==:@? 3F586E 2?5[ @9 3J E96 H2J[ E96 7FEFC6 @7 E96 AC@76DD:@?2= 7@@E32== E62> E92E A=2JD :ED 9@>6 82>6D 2 D9@CE 5C:G6 7C@> 96C 7C@?E 5@@C 2?5 J@F 92G6 E96 >2<:?8D 7@C 2 =@E @7 D=66A=6DD ?:89ED]k^Am kAmw6C6 2C6 ;FDE 2 76H >2EE6CD E92E H:== E2<6 FA 96C E:>6 2?5 567:?6 96C 23:=:E:6D E@ 8@G6C? F?56C 7:C6 :? 2 86@8C2A9:42==J 2?5 A@=:E:42==J 5:G6CD6 DE2E6 E92E H:== DE:== 36 C66=:?8 7C@> E96 D42?52=D E92E =65 E@ E96 C6D:8?2E:@? @7 p?5C6H |] rF@>@]k^Am People are also reading… Work on Exit 39 truck stop expected to move more quickly now New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Top Smyth DAR essay wins state competition Royal Oak DAR names 3 high school seniors as Good Citizens Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident Chilhowie switches to biodegradable bags for yard waste Along the Yellow Brick Road Atkins Elementary celebrates new community-engaged playground Smyth supervisor seeks more communication from Thomas Bridge Water system Blacksburg elementary principal among 17 men arrested in prostitution case Spanberger signs 22 bills, including one concerning pharmacy benefit managers $1M goal for Smyth County HealthTrust scholarship fund is near Virginia football QB Chandler Morris denied preliminary injunction in pursuit of 7th year Smyth supervisors say collective bargaining bills could cost county millions Trump issues an expletive-filled threat against Iran as details of US aviator's rescue emerge k9bmkDEC@?8m`]k^DEC@?8m kDEC@?8mr@?EC@==:?8k^DEC@?8m kDEC@?8mr@G:5k^DEC@?8mk^9bmkAm%96 r@G:5 :?764E:@? ?F>36CD 92G6 D92CA=J C:D6?[ H:E9 E96 ?6H 52:=J :?764E:@? C2E6 4=:>3:?8 >@C6 E92? `_ E:>6D E96 =6G6= :? >:5\yF?6] w@DA:E2=:K2E:@?D[ E@@[ 2C6 C:D:?8[ 2D 2C6 r@G:5 :?764E:@? A2E:6?ED :? :?E6?D:G6 42C6 F?:ED @? G6?E:=2E@CD] %96 ?F>36C @7 562E9D E96 DE2E6 4@F?ED 6249 52J – FD:?8 2 AC@46DD E92E 6I4=F56D >2?J A=246D H96C6 r@G:5 A6@A=6 >:89E 5:6[ =:<6 2E 9@>6 – 2C6 2=D@ C:D:?8]k^Am kAmw@49F= 7246D D@>6 <6J 564:D:@?D :? 9@H E@ 92?5=6 E96 A2?56>:4VD H@CD6?:?8 >@>6?E] s@6D D96 E2<6 @? E96 C@=6 rF@>@ 8C23365 7@C 9:>D6=7 :? a_a_ 2?5 364@>6 E96 D@=6 564:56C @7 r@G:5 C6DA@?D6D[ DF49 2D 64@?@>:4 D9FE5@H?D 2?5 D@4:2= 5:DE2?4:?8[ E@ E96 6I4=FD:@? :? >2;@C 564:D:@?\>2<:?8 3J 4@F?EJ 962=E9 56A2CE>6?ED E92E AC6A2C65 7@C J62CD 7@C 2 A2?56>:4n ~C 5@6D D96 25@AE E96 >@C6 C646?E rF@>@ a_a` >@56= 3J E2<:?8 D@>6 5:C64E C@FE6D[ =:<6 >2?52E:?8 E96 C6=2E:G6=J 76H 5:C64E 42C6 H@C<6CD :? DE2E6\@H?65 724:=:E:6D 36 G244:?2E65[ 3FE ?@H =62G:?8 :E FA E@ =@42=:E:6D E@ 564:56 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> :?5@@C >2D< >2?52E6D E@ G244:?2E:@? C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C 46CE2:? :?5:G:5F2=Dnk^Am k9bmkDEC@?8ma] '244:?6^E6DE:?8k^DEC@?8mk^9bmkAmrF@>@ H2D D92CA=J 4C:E:4:K65 7@C 9@H E96 r@G:5 G244:?6 AC@8C2> H2D C@==65 @FE[ E9@F89 E96 D:EF2E:@? :>AC@G65 2D E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 3@@DE65 :ED G244:?6 D9:A>6?ED E@ }6H *@C< 2?5 @E96C DE2E6D 62C=:6C E9:D J62C] $:?46 E96?[ 23@FE dgT @7 2== 6=:8:3=6 }6H *@C<6CD 92G6 366? 7F==J G244:?2E65]k^AmkAmrF@>@ D9FE 5@H? DE2E6\CF? >2DD G244:?2E:@? 2?5 E6DE:?8 D:E6D[ @? E96 E96@CJ E92E C6D@FC46D 4@F=5 36 36EE6C 2AA=:65 E@ =@H\G244:?2E:@? C2E6 2C62D] %96 ;FCJ @? E92E 2AAC@249[ 9@H6G6C[ :D @FE] p?5 @? E6DE:?8[ 2E 2 E:>6 H96? DEF56?ED 2?5 E62496CD 2C6 D6E E@ 6?5 DF>>6C G242E:@?D 2?5 >@C6 A6@A=6 2C6 36:?8 E@=5 E96J 92G6 E@ 86E E6DE65 :7 E96J H@?VE 86E G244:?2E65[ r@G:5 E6DE:?8 :D ?@ =@?86C 2D 62DJ 2D :E H2D E@ 86E =2DE J62C] u@C >2?J[ :E 42? 4@DE FAH2C5 @7 S`__ A6C E6DE ?@H E92E E96 DE2E6 ?@ =@?86C @776CD 7C66 E6DE:?8] s@6D w@49F= AFE @? 2 >@C6 288C6DD:G6 G244:?2E:@? 2?5 E6DE:?8 677@CE E92? rF@>@nk^Am k9bmkDEC@?8mb] $E2E6 3F586Ek^DEC@?8mk^9bmkAmx? E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9D[ w@49F= H:== 92G6 E@ 4C27E 2 ?6H Sa__ 3:==:@? DE2E6 3F586E] $96 H:== 36 ;@:?:?8 p=32?J’D >@DE 6I4=FD:G6 4=F3i E96 A6CD@? :? E96 C@@> C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 tI64FE:G6 qC2?49 :? D64C6E E2=<D H:E9 E96 9625D @7 E96 pDD6>3=J 2?5 $6?2E6]k^AmkAm(9:=6 E2I C6G6?F6D 92G6 :>AC@G65 D92CA=J @G6C a_a_ =6G6=D 2D E96 64@?@>J @A6?65 FA[ E96 7FEFC6 :D F?46CE2:?[ 2D H@CC:6D 23@FE ?6H 64@?@>:4 =@4<5@H?D E9:D 72== @C H:?E6C 42? 36 D4C2E4965 ;FDE 36=@H E96 DFC7246 2>@?8 DE2E6 3F586E @77:4:2=D]k^Am k9bmkDEC@?8mc] $E277:?8k^DEC@?8mk^9bm kAmw@49F= H:== 92G6 E@ 564:56 9@H 2?5 H96? D96 H2?ED E@ DECF4EFC6 E96 tI64FE:G6 r92>36C DE277] rF@>@ 4FE 96C @FE @7 >2?J @7 E96 >2;@C :DDF6D @7 E96 52J[ 2?5 D96 H:== ?665 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H9@ D96 H2?ED E@ <66A @? 2?J @7 E96 DE277 7C@> rF@>@’D tI64FE:G6 r92>36C A2JC@==]k^AmkAms@6D D96 >2<6 E96 492?86D BF:4<=J[ DF886DE:?8 D96VD 366? BF:6E=J AC6A2C:?8 E@ 364@>6 8@G6C?@C 7@C D@>6 E:>6 ?@H[ @C >@C6 D=@H=J @G6C E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9Dn (96? s2G:5 !2E6CD@? DF556?=J 3642>6 8@G6C?@C :? a__g 27E6C E96 C6D:8?2E:@? @7 t=:@E $A:EK6C[ E96 ?6H 8@G6C?@C C6BF:C65 2== E@A DE277[ :?4=F5:?8 286?4J 4@>>:DD:@?6CD[ E@ DF3>:E E96:C :>>65:2E6 C6D:8?2E:@?D E96 52J 96 E@@< @77:46] $@>6 96=5 @?E@ E96:C ;@3D[ H9:=6 !2E6CD@? D@@? 3C@F89E 9:D @H? A6@A=6 :?E@ D6?:@C ;@3D 2E E96 r2A:E@=]k^Am kAmp <6J BF6DE:@? 36:?8 2D<65 :? >2?J 4:C4=6Di (:== D96 4C62E6 2 =6DD E@A\5@H? 8F36C?2E@C:2= 25>:?:DEC2E:@? E92E 5@6D ?@E 86E 3@8865 5@H? :? 8@G6C?>6?E2= >:?FE:26[ =:<6 H@C5:?8 @7 9:89H2J D:8?D @C E96 DE2E6VD C6DA@?D6 E@ ?2EFC2= 5:D2DE6CDn rF@>@ >256 4=62C[ AC:G2E6=J 2?5 AF3=:4=J[ E92E E96 DE2E6 8@G6C?>6?E H2D 9:D E@ CF? 2?5 96 H2D 2G6CD6 E@ D92C:?8 E96 =:>6=:89E @C <6J 564:D:@?\>2<:?8 23:=:E:6D]k^Amk9bmkDEC@?8md] %CFDEk^DEC@?8mk^9bmkAmw@49F=[ H9@D6 E:>6 :? @77:46 H:== CF? @FE 2E E96 6?5 @7 s646>36C a_aa F?=6DD D96 :D C66=64E65 8@G6C?@C :? 2 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? E96 AC6G:@FD >@?E9[ 92D =:>:E65 E:>6 E@ C6DE@C6 @C 2E =62DE :>AC@G6 AF3=:4 ECFDE] (:== D96 36 =6DD 4@?DF>65 H:E9 D64C64J E92? rF@>@ 2?5 AFE 2 92=E E@ 96C AC65646DD@CVD A6?492?E 7@C 92G:?8 9:D @77:46[ 2?5 2== DE2E6 286?4:6D[ 24E :? =6DD\E92?\EC2?DA2C6?E H2JDnk^Am kAmw@49F=VD C6=2E:@?D H:E9 DE2E6 =2H>2<6CD 42? @?=J 36 :>AC@G65 4@>A2C65 H:E9 rF@>@[ H9@ H2D C@F?5=J 5:D=:<65 3J C2?<\2?5\7:=6 2?5 =6256CD :? E96 EH@ 9@FD6D] %96J 5:5 3FD:?6DD H:E9 9:> 3642FD6 E96J 925 E@[ ?@E 3642FD6 E96J 6?;@J65 :E[ >2?J 92G6 D2:5 AC:G2E6=J 7@C J62CD] %96 ?6H 8@G6C?@CVD 23:=:EJ E@ EC62E E96 {68:D=2EFC6 2D 2 D6A2C2E6=J 6=64E65 3C2?49 @7 8@G6C?>6?E H:== 8@ 2 =@?8 H2J E@ 564:5:?8 9@H DF446DD7F= @C ?@E D96 >:89E 36 H:E9 96C A@=:4J 2?5 7:D42= 286?52]k^Amk9bmkDEC@?8me] !@=:4J >2EE6CDk^DEC@?8mk^9bmkAmw@49F=VD C@@ED 2C6 :? >@56C2E6 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ A@=:E:4D[ E9@F89 D96 92D D<6H65 E@ E96 =67E :? >@C6 C646?E E:>6D 2D p=32?J 92D =62?65 =67EH2C5 H:E9 E96 4@>A=6E6 E2<6@G6C ?@H 3J s6>@4C2ED 2E E96 $E2E6 r2A:E@=] w@H 5@6D D96 52?46 36EH66? FADE2E6 >@56C2E6 C@@ED @7 96C A2CEJ 2?5 =:36C2= }6H *@C< r:EJ =2H>2<6CD H9@ 5@>:?2E6 E96 {68:D=2EFC6nk^Am kAmw@49F= H:== :?96C:E >2?J 4@?E6?E:@FD :DDF6D] %96 DE2E6VD >2C:;F2?2 =682=:K2E:@? AC@8C2>[ H9:49 H:== 762EFC6 C6E2:= @FE=6ED D6==:?8 E96 5CF8 E@ 25F=ED :? 2 ?6H 4F=E:G2E:@?[ 5:DEC:3FE:@? 2?5 D2=6D DJDE6>[ 92D 366? 56=2J65 3J 2 ?F>36C @7 724E@CD[ :?4=F5:?8 rF@>@VD 5:DEC24E:@?D H:E9 D42?52=D] s@6D w@49F= 86E E92E 324< @? EC24<nk^AmkAm%96 w@49F= 25>:?:DEC2E:@? H:== 2=D@ 92G6 E@ 564:56 :7 E96 AC@46DD 3J H9:49 rF@>@VD v2>:?8 r@>>:DD:@? :D @G6CD66:?8 E96 2H2C5:?8 @7 ?6H >@3:=6 DA@CED 36EE:?8 @A6C2E@CD D9@F=5 36 492?865]k^AmkAmp?5 E96 ?6H 8@G6C?@C :?96C:ED D@>6E9:?8 E92E @?=J 3682? C646?E=Ji ?68@E:2E:@?D 2>@?8 E96 DE2E6[ tC:6 r@F?EJ 2?5 E96 @H?6CD @7 E96 qF772=@ q:==D 23@FE H96E96C 2 ?6H }u{ DE25:F> D9@F=5 36 3F:=E :? ~C492C5 !2C< 2?5 :7 E96 E62>VD 2D< 7@C S`]c 3:==:@? :? E2IA2J6C >@?6J D9@F=5 8@ E@ 7F==J 7F?5 E96 724:=:EJ]k^Am kAm|2;@C 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :DDF6D 2C6 36:?8 5632E65[ =:<6 4=:>2E6 492?86 A@=:4:6D 2?5 9@H E@ >@C6 DH:7E=J 6?24E E96>j 32EE=6D @G6C 9@H E@ C6A2:C 4CF>3=:?8 FADE2E6 C@25D 2?5 3C:586Dj 2?5 H96E96C E96 8F36C?2E@C:2=\4@?EC@==65 286?4J E92E CF?D E96 }6H *@C< r:EJ EC2?D:E DJDE6> D9@F=5 >@G6 7@CH2C5 H:E9 42D9=6DD DF3H2J DE2E:@? 3@@E9D]k^AmkAm%96? E96C6 :D E9:D ?@E\D@\:?D:8?:7:42?E 724Ei p=>@DE d__ A:646D @7 =68:D=2E:@? A2DD65 3J =2H>2<6CD 5FC:?8 E96 a_a` D6DD:@? E92E 6?565 :? yF?6 92G6 ?@E J6E 366? D6?E E@ E96 8@G6C?@C 7@C D:8?2EFC6 @C G6E@]k^Am 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Reaction pours in after Cuomo steps aside Read what many politicians had to say soon after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation. Bob McCarthy: Hochul may introduce 'new kind of politics' as Cuomo era ends "Kathy is perceptive, but does not suffer fools," Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, said. "She knows when she's being bamboozled and will not tol… Cuomo steps aside with jarring video resignation but proclaims he's innocent A defiant Cuomo denied groping any women, but apologized for his actions in a 30-minute resignation speech broadcast exactly a week after Atto… Q&A: How will the transition to a Hochul administration work? The resignation of Andrew M. Cuomo as New York’s 56th governor – paving the way for Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul to be governor in 14 days – raises m… Hochul promises early appointment of new lieutenant governor "It will be somebody who is no stranger to me, but also someone that will carry on the vision of my administration, which is to continue the s… In one-on-one interview, 'energized' Hochul says she's 'prepared' to take reins "People will see very early on the kind of person I am and the expectations I have of any team that's ever worked with me," Hochul said. "They… The Editorial Board: It's Gov. Hochul's turn As lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul has served as a goodwill ambassador for the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, amassing political ca… Stories: Andrew Cuomo resigns; Kathy Hochul to become NY governor Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, will step into the top job in New York State after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he will resign in 14 d… From The News' archives: Who is Kathy Hochul? Buffalo native Kathy Hochul will become the next governor of New York State. Timeline: Kathy Hochul's political career Kathy Hochul's career in politics spans more than three decades. The next governor: Kathy Hochul is a politician who leads with charm, not fear People who have worked with Hochul over the years tend to say the same things about her – that she's hard-working, competent and unusually kin… Andrew Cuomo resigns; Kathy Hochul becomes N.Y. governor in 14 days Engulfed by sexual harassment scandal, Cuomo resigns as governor of New York. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul of Buffalo will be the next governor. A 'survivor:' Kathy Hochul has a history of surprising political victories More often than not, the stars, moons and planets of New York's political heavens have aligned perfectly for Kathy Hochul. Watch Now: Related Video Wireless Festival cancelled after Kanye West blocked from entering UK Artemis II Crew Return After Record Breaking Journey Beyond Earth Artemis II Crew Return After Record Breaking Journey Beyond Earth Trump brushes off war crimes concerns as he widens threat to Iran's power plants and bridges AP Trump brushes off war crimes concerns as he widens threat to Iran's power plants and bridges Trump says it would take 4 hours to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants AP Trump says it would take 4 hours to destroy Iran’s bridges and power plants
Reaction pours in after Cuomo steps aside Read what many politicians had to say soon after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation.
Bob McCarthy: Hochul may introduce 'new kind of politics' as Cuomo era ends "Kathy is perceptive, but does not suffer fools," Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, said. "She knows when she's being bamboozled and will not tol…
Cuomo steps aside with jarring video resignation but proclaims he's innocent A defiant Cuomo denied groping any women, but apologized for his actions in a 30-minute resignation speech broadcast exactly a week after Atto…
Q&A: How will the transition to a Hochul administration work? The resignation of Andrew M. Cuomo as New York’s 56th governor – paving the way for Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul to be governor in 14 days – raises m…
Hochul promises early appointment of new lieutenant governor "It will be somebody who is no stranger to me, but also someone that will carry on the vision of my administration, which is to continue the s…
In one-on-one interview, 'energized' Hochul says she's 'prepared' to take reins "People will see very early on the kind of person I am and the expectations I have of any team that's ever worked with me," Hochul said. "They…
The Editorial Board: It's Gov. Hochul's turn As lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul has served as a goodwill ambassador for the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, amassing political ca…
Stories: Andrew Cuomo resigns; Kathy Hochul to become NY governor Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, will step into the top job in New York State after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he will resign in 14 d…
From The News' archives: Who is Kathy Hochul? Buffalo native Kathy Hochul will become the next governor of New York State.
Timeline: Kathy Hochul's political career Kathy Hochul's career in politics spans more than three decades.
The next governor: Kathy Hochul is a politician who leads with charm, not fear People who have worked with Hochul over the years tend to say the same things about her – that she's hard-working, competent and unusually kin…
Andrew Cuomo resigns; Kathy Hochul becomes N.Y. governor in 14 days Engulfed by sexual harassment scandal, Cuomo resigns as governor of New York. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul of Buffalo will be the next governor.
A 'survivor:' Kathy Hochul has a history of surprising political victories More often than not, the stars, moons and planets of New York's political heavens have aligned perfectly for Kathy Hochul.