portrait
Status: 08/24/2021 12:18 a.m.
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In the US state of New York a woman becomes governor for the first time. Kathy Hochul succeeds Cuomo, who resigned after harassment allegations.
By Antje Passenheim, ARD-Studio New York
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The movers have already pulled up in front of the governor’s mansion in Albany. And Kathy Hochul announced a drastic change of scenery: “At the end of my term of office – whenever it comes – nobody will describe my work atmosphere as poisoned.”
Antje Passenheim
ARD-Studio New York
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That is what brought her predecessor to head and neck. Andrew Cuomo, whom eleven women accuse of sexual harassment. And who therefore took his hat. Until then, Hochul was in the shadow of her self-exalted boss. Now she jumps into the breach. With a clenched fist: “My promise to all New Yorkers is: I will fight like hell for you every day. Whatever the outcome.”
Hochul comes from a conservative region
The 62-year-old writes history: The woman with the piercing, gray look is the first female governor to sit in the executive chair of the state with 19 million people. “I’m beside myself about this chance. It’s a gift.” Seven years ago Cuomo had made the Democrat his vice-governor, giving her precedence over a male rival. But they were never in agreement. Hochul now likes to emphasize that.
I think it’s very clear that the governor and I are not very close. I’d rather travel the country than spend time with him in the Capitol.
The lawyer comes from Hamburg, a small town in upstate New York. In contrast to the clearly left-wing metropolis, the region on Lake Erie is conservative. The daughter of an immigrant steelworker family from Ireland was already astonishing there: when she won the race against a Republican in a by-election in 2011 – and moved to the House of Representatives in Washington for the Democrats.
Hochul likes to pretend to be a fighter
The mother of two entered politics at the age of 35. “Since then, I’ve seized every opportunity that came my way.” She represented New York in Parliament for the Obama administration for a year. Among other things in the strike force committee. Then she lost her seat and went into banking. With her mother and an aunt, Hochul founded an asylum for women fleeing domestic violence. She likes to pretend to be a fighter.
I fought out there on the street to raise the minimum wage, I fought for paid parental leave. I fought like a world champion against opioid prescription abuse – something that affected my family directly. For child support, affordable housing, clean energy, economic development. That will go on. Even with more pressure.
What Kathy Hochul doesn’t say: Originally, she fought many of these goals. Opposed to having illegal immigrants get their driver’s license, which also serves as an ID. That wouldn’t have worked out well in her rural constituency around Buffalo. It was only when she was in the passenger seat of Andrew Cuomo that her posture changed. Hochul often explains that she has just learned something new. The next year will show whether the voters will do that for her. Then the next gubernatorial elections are due in New York.
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