Gotham Gazette

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Kathy Hochul

Kathy Hochul

  • Max Politics Podcast: Michael Gianaris on Andrew Cuomo's Resignation and What's Ahead in New York Politics

    Senator Michael Gianaris on Post-Cuomo New York Politics

    Senator Michael Gianaris (photo: NYS Senate Media Services)


    August 20, 2021 - Max Politics Podcast: Senator Michael Gianaris on Post-Cuomo New York Politics

    State Senator Michael Gianaris, a Queens Democrat and deputy leader of the State Senate, joined the show to discuss Governor Andrew Cuomo's downfall and reign, what's next in New York state politics, legislative priorities and dynamics, his own political future, and much more.

    Listen to the conversation and let us know

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  • 'A Much More Powerful Presence Than Was Appropriate': Tom DiNapoli on Andrew Cuomo's Reign and Resignation

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    Comptroller DiNapoli, right, & Governor Cuomo (photo: governor's office)


    Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the self-described “steady hand helping the state move along” throughout more than a decade of scandal and turmoil in New York politics, is expressing optimism about the change of leadership expected when Governor Andrew Cuomo resigns and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul becomes the state’s 57th Governor.

    Appearing recently on the Max Politics podcast hosted by Gotham Gazette’s Ben Max, DiNapoli discussed Cuomo’s decade-plus as governor,

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  • The Massive Budget Power of the New York Governor and What’s at Stake in 2022

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    Gov. Cuomo presenting a budget (photo: Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)


    Governor Andrew Cuomo will soon be in the rearview mirror for New Yorkers as a result of his announced resignation on August 10, 2021, effective 14 days later. A fresh start will be a welcome relief for all New Yorkers. That is because, as we face 2022, everyone who seeks a government that strives for justice must take heed that the office of the Governor of New York is the most powerful public office in the state, and then some.

    In the decade-long budget battles

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  • Filling a Vacancy in the Office of Lieutenant Governor: History and Hochul’s Opportunity

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    Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (photo: Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of the Governor)


    Kathy Hochul is the ninth New York lieutenant governor to become governor through the state constitutional process to fill a vacancy.* But she will be just the second to appoint a successor to the office she herself vacates. David Paterson was the first. This  provides her a unique opportunity to improve New York state government.

    Lieutenant Governor Paterson became Governor in 2008 when Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace. Notwithstanding the centuries long practice of

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  • Max Politics Podcast: Tom DiNapoli on the End of the Cuomo Era and What's Next

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    New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (photo: Office of the NYS Comptroller)


    August 13, 2021 - Max Politics Podcast: Tom DiNapoli on the End of the Cuomo Era and What's Next

    New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli joined the show to discuss Governor Andrew Cuomo's resignation announcement and tenure, what he is hopeful about moving forward, his relationship with presumptive next governor Kathy Hochul, whether he may run for governor in 2022 himself, and more.

    Listen to the conversation and let us know

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  • The Case for a Latino Lieutenant Governor

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    Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, & Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, right, in Puerto Rico (photo: Gabriel López Albarrán/Governor's office)


    Andrew Cuomo’s resignation has historical import in potentially numerous ways. When the current Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul, becomes Governor of New York in just under two weeks, she will become the first woman to occupy the executive chamber in Albany. History will also be made if Hochul decides to appoint a Latino as her Lieutenant Governor.

    I suggest that is exactly what she should do.

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  • Max Politics Podcast: Getting to Know Future Governor Kathy Hochul

    Max Politics Podcast: Getting to Know Future Governor Kathy Hochul

    Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (photo: Gabriel López Albarrán/Governor's Office)


    August 11, 2021 - Max Politics Podcast: Getting to Know Future Governor Kathy Hochul

    As Kathy Hochul is set to become New York's 57th Governor, and first woman to hold the position, reporters Anna Gronewold of Politico and Bob McCarthy of The Buffalo News joined the show to discuss her background, ascent, first press conference as presumptive next Governor, and what's next.

    Listen to the

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  • Facing Impeachment, Cuomo Announces Resignation in Wake of Sexual Harassment Report

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    Governor Andrew Cuomo (Don Pollard/Governor's Office)


    Governor Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced that he is resigning from office, just one week after a bombshell state attorney general report found that he had sexually harassed 11 women, nine of whom were current or former state employees.

    Cuomo, in a live virtual address from his Manhattan office, said his resignation will take effect in 14 days, at which time

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  • After Significant Help for State Senate Democrats in 2018, Cuomo Largely Absent from 2020 Races

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    Gov. Cuomo with now-State Senator Andrew Gounardes in Oct. 2018 (photo: Cuomo/Flickr)


    After flipping several State Senate seats in 2018 and taking control of the upper legislative chamber and therefore all of state government, Democrats sought to hold onto their wide majority this year even with a Republican president atop the ticket. They believed they might be able to win a supermajority in the chamber to match that of Democrats in the Assembly by picking up at least two additional Senate seats, if not more.

    But as Senate

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  • Largely Absent from Cuomo's Coronavirus Briefings, Lieutenant Governor Hochul Charged with Western New York Role

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    Gov. Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Hochul (photo: Darren McGee, Governor's Office)


    As Governor Andrew Cuomo garnered national attention while leading briefings on New York’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak each day for well over a month, often from Albany and sometimes from Manhattan, one top state official was conspicuously absent: Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.

    Not only was the lieutenant governor not present for any of the governor’s first 40-plus daily coronavirus briefings, she was curiously never mentioned as part of the Cuomo

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  • Big Year Ahead for Cuomo’s Child Care Task Force

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    Gov. Cuomo (photo: Governor's Office)


    In his 2020 State of the State address, delivered January 8 in Albany, Governor Andrew Cuomo mentioned expanding the state’s child care tax credit as one of his policy priorities for the year, something he reiterated on January 21 when he outlined his budget proposal, which had to take into account the cost.

    But that expansion of an existing policy is only one part of what is supposed to become a signature Cuomo initiative: an expansive child care agenda to benefit families across New York. A panel convened by Cuomo a

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  • Hochul Previews 2019 Cuomo Administration Agenda, Defends Economic Development Programming

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    Lt. Gov. Hochul at the REDC awards (photo: the Governor's Office)


    In a recent radio interview, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the elements of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s newly-unveiled 2019 agenda that she plans to have a significant role in passing. Hochul also discussed and defended the administration’s Regional Economic Development Council program, explained her role co-chairing the new Childcare Viability Task Force, and discussed the timetable for a statewide $15 minimum wage.

    As a guest ...

  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul on 2019 Priorities

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    Ben Max, left, of Gotham Gazette, and Jarrett Murphy, right, of City Limits


    December 19, 2018 - Max & Murphy Podcast: Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul on 2019 Priorities

    wbai 12 19 lt governor kathy hochulLieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul joined the show to discuss the Cuomo administration priorities for 2019, including which issues she plans to be most involved with, the state's

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  • Cuomo Reelected, Democrats Take the State Senate; 2018 General Election Results in New York

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    Gov. Cuomo votes (photo: @andrewcuomo)


    Democrats will take full control of New York state government in 2019 thanks to the reelection of Governor Andrew Cuomo and other candidates for statewide office, as well as wins in the state Senate that flipped control of the upper chamber. Democrats continue to hold a wide majority in the state Assembly. With help from New York, Democrats also flipped the U.S. House of Representatives.

    The state Senate and ...

  • Post-Primary Campaign Finance Filings Show Cuomo’s Already Spent $28 Million

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    Photo: Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)


    Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat running for reelection to a third term, successfully claimed the Democratic Party nomination earlier this month after a bitter primary battle against actor and education activist Cynthia Nixon. But the victory came at significant cost as Cuomo spent more than $20 million this year alone, nearly ten times what Nixon spent in total as she attempted to unseat him.

    Cuomo, who won with 64.4 percent of the vote to Nixon’s 34.4 percent in the September 13 primary, is headed into the

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  • A Closer Look at Democratic Primary Turnout, Margins and Geography

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    Gov. Cuomo voting in Thursday's primary (photo: @NYGovCuomo)


    The Democratic gubernatorial primary between Governor Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon saw a significant surge in voter participation, but turnout still stood at only 27 percent of active registered Democrats.

    Compared to the 2014 primary election, when Zephyr Teachout challenged Cuomo, who was then seeking a second term, turnout more than doubled, according to preliminary numbers. And, turnout spiked slightly more in New York City than elsewhere. Specifically, 28 percent of registered

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  • 2018 New York State Primary Results: Cuomo, Hochul, James Prevail While Senate Upsets Abound

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    (photo: @andrewcuomo)


    Governor Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic nomination by a wide margin Thursday, with his running-mate Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul surviving a much closer race, Public Advocate Letitia James prevailing comfortably in a crowded Attorney General primary, and more than half a dozen upsets of sitting state Senators, including six of the eight former members of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC).

    Additionally, voter turnout was significantly higher than 2014, the last gubernatorial election year, perhaps owing to the

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  • Cuomo and Hochul Win Primaries, Again Form Democratic General Election Ticket

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    Gov. Cuomo (photo: @andrewcuomo)


    Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, won his party’s nomination for a third term on Thursday, after a bruising primary battle against actor and education activist Cynthia Nixon, who challenged him from his left. Cuomo won with about 65 percent of the vote against Nixon’s 35 percent. Joining Cuomo on the Democratic ticket is Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who won the party nomination over her own primary challenger, New York City Council Member Jumaane Williams. Hochul received 53 percent against Williams’ 47

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  • Get Ready to Vote in the Hochul-Williams Lieutenant Governor Primary

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    Jumanne Williams, left, & Kathy Hochul (photos: @JumaaneWilliams & @KathyHochul)


    New York City Council Member Jumaane Williams in January announced that he was running for lieutenant governor, posing a Democratic primary challenge to Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. While doing so, Williams took aim at both Hochul and her partner in government and running-mate, Governor Andrew Cuomo. Williams criticized from the left Cuomo’s policies and management, while saying that Hochul has done little to hold the governor accountable, and promised to if

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  • Statewide Candidates File Final Pre-Primary Campaign Finance Disclosures

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    (Photo: Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)


    The primary election is next Thursday, September 13, and candidates for statewide office filed another round of campaign spending and fundraising reports this week, the final disclosures due before primary day.

    Governor Andrew Cuomo, a two-term Democrat, has been, for the most part, publicly nonchalant about his primary challenger, actor and activist Cynthia Nixon. But his campaign finance filings show he is spending far more to beat back her insurgent bid than he did four years ago,

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  • Max & Murphy Podcast: Final Days of the Lieutenant Governor Primary

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    Ben Max, left, of Gotham Gazette, and Jarrett Murphy, right, of City Limits


    September 5, 2018 - Final Days of the Lieutenant Governor Primary between Kathy Hochul & Jumaane Williams

    podcast hocul williams 277Just eight days before their Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor will (most likely) be decided by voters, incumbent Kathy Hochul and challenger Jumaane Williams joined the show

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  • WATCH: Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary Debate Between Kathy Hochul and Jumaane Williams

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    Jumaane Williams and Kathy Hochul (Photo: MNN)


    Watch the Lieutenant Governor Democratic primary debate between incumbent Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul and her challenger, City Council Member Jumaane Williams. The debate was hosted by Manhattan Neighborhood Network and moderated by Gotham Gazette editor Ben Max ahead of the September 13 primary vote.

  • Hochul Asserts Previously Unmentioned Role in Anti-Sexual Harassment Laws

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    Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (photo: The Governor's Office)


    Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday said she was “very much involved” in the recently signed laws aimed at combating sexual harassment in the workplace — a claim that comes in stark contrast to all prior indications that the legislation had been determined exclusively by four elected men and no elected women.

    “I was used as a resource, as someone who has lived this experience personally, which is why I’m so passionate about standing up for women,” Hochul said while debating her Democratic primary

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  • Hochul, Williams Outline Drastic Differences in Lieutenant Governor Debate

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    Jumaane Williams and Kathy Hochul (photo: Gotham Gazette)


    New York City Council Member Jumaane Williams on Wednesday pledged to remake the lieutenant governor position he is seeking, as Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul defended her record and approach to the job, as well as Governor Andrew Cuomo’s tenure. The two Democrats were appearing in their only scheduled televised debate ahead of the September 13 vote.

    The 30-minute debate, hosted by Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) and moderated by Gotham Gazette editor Ben Max, aired Thursday evening on MNN, while also being live-streamed

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  • Rep. Jeffries Backs Gov. Cuomo for Reelection

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    Gov. Cuomo with Rep. Jeffries (photo via the Governor's office)


    U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a rising Congressional star and Brooklyn political power-broker, is backing Governor Andrew Cuomo for reelection.

    Jeffries, who represents the 8th Congressional District of New York, which includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens, sees Cuomo’s case as airtight, despite a fierce gubernatorial primary challenge being waged by actor and activist Cynthia Nixon.

    “As the governor of the state of New York, he’s done a phenomenal job over the last eight

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