VoterLens
Governor of New York
Syracuse University—B.A.; Catholic University—J.D.
Data last updated 10/19/2026
Kathy Hochul is the 57th and first female Governor of New York State. She began her public-service career on the Hamburg Town Board, later served as Erie County Clerk, represented New York’s 26th Congressional District in Congress, served as Lieutenant Governor from 2015 to 2021, and became Governor in 2021 before winning a full term in 2022.
Committee Assignments: No committee assignments available.
Kathy Hochul supports expanding and subsidizing health coverage, strengthening Medicaid and safety-net hospitals, reducing patient costs, and protecting New Yorkers from medical debt. As Governor of New York, she has proposed 2026 health-care investments and signed laws on medical debt, emergency care access, lung-cancer screening coverage, and medical aid in dying.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Hochul signed legislation barring health-care providers from placing liens on a patient's primary residence or garnishing wages to collect medical debt.
SourceHochul signed legislation expanding Medicaid reimbursement for ambulance treatment in place and transportation to alternative health-care settings, and allowing certain ambulance services to store, distribute, and administer blood transfusions.
SourceHochul signed legislation requiring health insurance policies to cover follow-up screening or diagnostic services for lung cancer without patient cost-sharing.
SourceKathy Hochul supports an active state role in economic development, emphasizing workforce training, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor and technology investments, small-business support, and regional revitalization to create good-paying jobs in New York. Her record and current proposals focus on preparing workers for high-demand fields, attracting employers, reshoring manufacturing, and expanding employment access for people with disabilities.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Hochul announced FY27 budget actions to create good-paying jobs through investments in quantum technology, biotechnology, semiconductor chip design, modern manufacturing, small businesses, downtown revitalization, agriculture, and industrial hemp development.
SourceHochul signed Executive Order 40 committing New York to be an Employment First state and prioritizing competitive integrated employment for New Yorkers with disabilities.
SourceKathy Hochul supports limiting state and local involvement in federal civil immigration enforcement while preserving cooperation on criminal investigations, and she has backed state-level protections for immigrant communities against ICE overreach. She also supports federal immigration action including border security funding, migration-response aid to states and localities, faster processing, work authorization for asylum seekers, and resources to help New York manage asylum-seeker arrivals.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Hochul said she was advancing protections to keep civil immigration enforcement out of homes, schools, libraries, community centers and other sensitive locations without a warrant, and to prevent local police, jails and law-enforcement technology from being used for civil immigration enforcement.
SourceHochul championed and signed a legislative package creating the Office of Immigrant Trust and limiting state and local collaboration with federal civil immigration enforcement, including requiring existing 287(g) agreements to end.
SourceHochul led a nine-governor coalition urging federal leaders to pass aid for states and localities, border security measures, faster processing and eligibility determinations, removal proceedings for those ineligible to stay, and broader immigration-system modernization.
SourceHochul backed state funding, legal services, casework, shelter support, employer connections for work-authorized migrants and asylum seekers, and federal action to expedite work authorization so asylum seekers can become self-sufficient.
SourceKathy Hochul supports an aggressive clean-energy and climate agenda for New York, including renewable-energy procurement, building decarbonization, cap-and-invest, climate resilience, and holding fossil-fuel companies accountable for climate damages. As governor, she has used budget proposals, executive orders, agency directives, and bill signings to advance New York's Climate Act goals while emphasizing affordability and grid reliability.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Hochul signed legislation creating a Climate Superfund requiring major fossil fuel companies to help pay for climate resilience projects, and also signed a bill broadening New York's fracking ban to include carbon dioxide-based extraction.
SourceHochul announced conditional awards for three offshore wind and 22 land-based renewable energy projects totaling 6.4 gigawatts, supporting New York's goals of 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and nine gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035.
SourceKathy Hochul supports expanding education affordability and access in New York through universal school meals, free community college pathways for adult learners, increased school aid, and SUNY/CUNY investments. She has also backed statewide K-12 phone restrictions as an education and student well-being policy.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Hochul secured a statewide policy requiring bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, with exemptions for medical, IEP, academic, translation, caregiving, and emergency needs.
SourceHochul signed FY 2026 budget legislation creating free community college pathways for eligible adult New Yorkers pursuing high-demand fields, including funding for tuition, books, fees, and supplies through SUNY and CUNY Reconnect.
SourceKathy Hochul frames public safety as a top priority as Governor of New York, emphasizing tougher gun laws, bail and discovery changes, law-enforcement funding, subway safety, retail-theft enforcement, hate-crime prosecution, and gun-violence prevention. Her record and 2026 proposals generally support stronger enforcement tools paired with investments in prosecutors, defenders, victim services, and violence-prevention programs.
Specific Actions & Proposals
Hochul supported and highlighted FY26 budget amendments to New York discovery laws intended to reduce automatic dismissals, protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable while preserving defendants' due-process rights.
SourceHochul supported the FY2024 budget public-safety package providing judges greater discretion to set bail for serious crimes, $170 million for discovery implementation, and $347 million for evidence-based gun-violence prevention initiatives.
SourceHochul supported FY2023 budget changes expanding bail eligibility for certain gun and repeat offenses, adding bail-setting factors, closing Raise the Age and discovery loopholes, and funding gun-violence prevention programs.
SourceGovernor Kathy Hochul | New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/about-governor-hochulFetched: biography
U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives
https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/15616Fetched: biography
Transparency USA - Kathy C Hochul candidate profile
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/candidate/kathy-c-hochul/Fetched: campaignFinance
Transparency USA - Governor of New York Election
https://www.transparencyusa.org/ny/race/governor-of-new-york-76790Fetched: campaignFinance
New York State Board of Elections Public Reporting System
https://publicreporting.elections.ny.gov/Fetched: campaignFinance
CandidateAlerts - Kathy C. Hochul 2026 profile citing NYSBOE July Periodic disclosure
https://candidatealerts.com/politicians/p_bn15jjxggFetched: campaignFinance
PEF Executive Board votes to endorse Governor Kathy Hochul
https://www.pef.org/articles/news/pef-executive-board-votes-to-endorse-governor-kathy-hochul/Fetched: endorsements
Actors' Equity Association Endorses Kathy Hochul for Reelection as Governor of New York
https://www.actorsequity.org/news/PR/2026/07/08/actors-equity-association-endorses-kathy-hochul-for-reelection-as-governor-of-new-yorkFetched: endorsements
NYSUT issues endorsements for Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller as well as State Assembly and Senate Primaries
https://www.nysut.org/news/2026/may/media-release-endorsementsFetched: endorsements
CSEA Announces Statewide Endorsements
https://cseany.org/csea-announces-statewide-endorsements/Fetched: endorsements
Vote Smart Kathy Hochul political summary
https://j.futurefacts.votesmart.io/candidate/129238/kathy-hochul?categoryId=&p=3&type=V,S,R,E,F,P,E,E,E,E,E,EFetched: endorsements
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-unveils-new-initiatives-strengthen-new-yorks-health-care-system-drive-downFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/fy-2026-executive-budget/fy-2026-executive-budget-highlightsFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-legislation-protect-patients-medical-debtFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-legislation-expand-health-care-access-new-yorkersFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-legislation-making-life-saving-medical-care-more-affordable-andFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-plan-grow-and-strengthen-new-yorks-economyFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-ushers-new-era-economic-growth-innovation-and-good-paying-jobs-fy27-budgetFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-comprehensive-plan-strengthen-new-yorks-workforce-and-help-growFetched: issuePositions
New York State Digital Service
https://digital.ny.gov/state-of-the-state-book-2026/Fetched: issuePositions
Legal Information Institute - Cornell Law School
https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-york/9-NYCRR-9.147Fetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/keeping-new-yorkers-safe-governor-hochul-introduces-local-cops-local-crimes-act-stop-ice-coFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/video-rush-transcript-governor-hochul-details-new-protections-against-federal-immigrationFetched: issuePositions
New York State Office of the Attorney General
https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2026/attorney-general-james-and-governor-hochul-announce-first-enforcement-action-newFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-leads-nine-governor-coalition-call-federal-action-immigrationFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/taking-action-address-asylum-seeker-crisis-new-yorkFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul | New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-directs-state-agencies-accelerate-renewable-energy-development-andFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul | New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-landmark-legislation-creating-new-climate-superfundFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul | New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-nations-largest-ever-state-investment-renewable-energy-movingFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul | New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-fy-2024-budget-investments-energy-affordability-sustainableFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul | New York State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/executive-order/no-22-leading-example-directing-state-agencies-adopt-sustainability-andFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - Distraction-Free Schools announcement
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/distraction-free-schools-governor-hochul-announces-new-york-become-largest-state-nationFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - Higher education FY 2026 budget legislation
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-signs-legislation-making-community-college-free-adult-new-yorkers-enteringFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - Universal school meals proposal
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/universal-school-meals-governor-hochul-announces-free-breakfast-and-lunch-more-27-millionFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - FY 2025 Executive Budget highlights
https://www.governor.ny.gov/fy-2025-executive-budget/fy-2025-executive-budget-highlightsFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - FY 2027 Executive Budget highlights
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-unveils-highlights-fiscal-year-2027-executive-budget-stronger-safer-moreFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - Keeping New Yorkers Safe 2026 State of the State
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/keeping-new-yorkers-safe-governor-hochul-unveils-plan-strengthen-public-safety-and-make-ourFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - Discovery Law Improvements
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/strengthening-public-safety-governor-hochul-announces-discovery-law-improvements-take-effectFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - New Initiatives to Fight Crime and Improve Public Safety
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-new-initiatives-fight-crime-and-improve-public-safetyFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - FY 2024 Budget Public Safety Investments
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-fy-2024-budget-historic-investments-and-initiatives-drive-down-gunFetched: issuePositions
Governor Kathy Hochul - FY 2023 Budget Public Safety Investments
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-fy-2023-budget-investments-create-safer-and-more-just-new-york-stateFetched: issuePositions