ALBANY — Gov. Kathleen Courtney “Kathy” Hochul vowed to change the culture in Albany and deepen relationships with legislative leaders Tuesday for her ceremonial swearing in as New York’s 57th governor and first female to lead the state.
Hochul, 62, first took and signed her oath of office in a private ceremony with family at 12:01 a.m. at the state Capitol in a traditional midnight transition of power.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s term expired at 11:59 p.m. Monday. The former governor who resigned in disgrace Aug. 10 submitted his letter of resignation shortly after 8:30 p.m. Monday.
State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore swore Hochul in just after midnight and again in a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol with family, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers.
“I want people to believe in their government again,” Hochul said during a brief question-and-answer session with reporters. “It’s important to me that people have faith. Our strength comes from the faith and the confidence of the people who put us in these offices and I take that very seriously.”
Hochul was sworn in both times Tuesday with her husband, First Gentleman Bill Hochul, by her side.
Her father, Jack Courtney, smiled with pride.
“We ask God for blessings upon this state,” the Rev. Pastor Solomon Dees prayed aloud before Hochul’s swearing in.
Dees leads Albany’s Wilborn Temple First Church.
“We ask God the blessings upon us as we go through these treacherous times, that you will give us the wisdom, the wherewithal to have steady hands from you to know where to lead your people,” he added.
Hochul’s children, Katie and Will, were in attendance with their spouses Matt Gloudeman and Christina Hochul. Hochul’s brothers Dave and Dennis Courtney, her aunt Patricia Courtney and sister Sheila gave Hochul a standing ovation after she took her oath of office.
DiFiore wore a robe worn by Judith Kaye, the first woman to serve as the state’s chief judge.
Hochul and the women in her family all wore white — a tribute to women Suffragettes who wore the color in the early 20th century, showing solidarity with women and women’s issues.
“This is an emotional moment for me, but it is one that I prepared for,” Hochul said.
The new governor outlined detailed plans for the state in a 3 p.m. address in the state Capitol closed to the press and public.
Hochul’s leading priorities include combatting COVID-19 and moving $2.7 billion Emergency Rental Assistance Program and $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund pandemic-related assistance for tenants, small landlords and undocumented immigrants.
Hochul requested a 45-day transition period to assemble members of her cabinet and evaluate leaders of state agencies.
“A fully diverse cabinet will be high priority,” she said.
Hochul spoke with President Joe Biden on Monday night in addition to various federal and state leaders leading up to her inauguration.
Biden, a fellow Democrat, pledged his full support behind Hochul’s administration and to provide assistance as the state recovers damage from hurricane Henri over the weekend and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaker Heastie stands ready to work with Hochul to move the state forward.
“Gov. Kathy Hochul has served at every level of government and is a qualified and dedicated public servant,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “Over the course of her time in public service, she has visited every corner of this state and developed strong relationships with local representatives.
“My colleagues and I know that our state is facing many significant challenges, and we are prepared to partner with Gov. Hochul in addressing them,” Heastie said. “We look forward to working with her to ensure our children can safely return to school, New Yorkers are able to stay in their homes, small businesses can thrive again, our work to end to the scourge of gun violence continues and to fight the resurgence of COVID-19 to finally put this pandemic behind us.”
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt was quick to offer his congratulations on Hochul’s well-wishes.
“I am looking forward to working with this new administration to try to improve the lives of New Yorkers all across the state,” Ortt said. “Gov. Hochul takes office in the face of many challenges. It is my hope that she will work with elected leaders in both parties to address pressing issues like the pandemic, rising crime, continued outmigration and other threats to the future of our state. Saving our state will require input from across the political spectrum, not just the most radical voices from one region of our state.”
State Attorney General Letitia James congratulated Gov. Hochul immediately after her midnight swearing-in.
“Today is a historic day for New Yorkers with the swearing in of our first female governor, Kathy Hochul,” James said in a prepared statement. “I congratulate Gov. Hochul on this incredible accomplishment and wish her well in her new role building on the progress of our great state. I look forward to continuing to work with her and the entire incoming administration.”