New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Wednesday described herself as a “Biden Democrat” in her first sit-down interview since being sworn in as the state’s first female governor.
“The Democratic Party has to regain its position that it once had when I was growing up. My grandparents were F.D.R. Democrats. My parents were J.F.K. Democrats,” Hochul told The New York Times. “Today I’m a Biden Democrat.”
Hochul was asked about whether she would use her new position to help Democrats expand their House majority in New York through redistricting.
“I have a responsibility to lead this party, as well as the government,” Hochul told the Times. “I’m going to be doing whatever I can to let people know that the values of the Democratic Party today are part of who I am, fighting for people that just had a tough blow dealt to them in life.”
Hochul’s ascendance to the governor’s mansion followed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation on Monday amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
Cuomo was one of President Biden’s most prominent political allies during his tenure as governor. Biden called on Cuomo to resign after New York Attorney General Letitia James’s (D) report on the allegations against Cuomo.
Hochul was sworn in as governor at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday at the New York State Capitol before a more formal swearing-in later that day. Her new position marks a new era for New York politics. She is the first woman to hold the position of governor in the Empire State, and she is flanked by a woman attorney general and an acting woman lieutenant governor, state Sen. Andrew Stewart-Cousins (D).
Additionally, Hochul named two women to serve as her top aides: Karen Persichilli as secretary to the governor and Elizabeth Fine as governor’s counsel.