Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul, 68, was born in Woodlawn and raised in Hamburg, New York, and earned her undergraduate degree at Syracuse University and her law degree at Catholic University of America. She was Erie County clerk from 2007 to 2011, represented New York's 26th congressional district in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2013, and served as lieutenant governor from 2015 to 2021 under Gov. Andrew Cuomo before becoming governor. As governor she raised the statewide minimum wage by 50 cents, increased the state child tax credit and banned insulin copays. She proposed a multi-year, $1 billion plan to improve mental health care, added subway barriers and police presence in New York City, and put $36 million toward reducing gun violence. She points to a $25 billion, five-year housing plan and her 'Let Them Build' agenda. She cites falling shootings and murders, says New York is not a sanctuary for criminals and calls ICE 'out of control.' She signed a 2026 state budget that included universal childcare, a ban on local 287(g) immigration agreements and changes to the state climate law.