New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in on Sunday for her first elected term, making history as the first woman elected to office in the state.
The Democrat, who begins her term as New York’s 57th governor, said her goals were to increase public safety and make the state more accessible.
“Right now there are some fights that we have to go through,” Hochul said after being sworn in at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. “First we must and will make our roads safer.”
Hochul also called for making the state more accessible, citing the high cost of living. Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado was also sworn in on Sunday.
The Buffalo native, Hochul, 64, defeated Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin, a Donald Trump ally, in the November election to win the job he took on in 2021 when former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned.
A former congresswoman, she served as Cuomo’s lieutenant governor before taking office in August 2021 and has been trying to portray herself as a fresh start for Cuomo. She resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment, which she denies.
Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer described his win in November as “breaking the glass ceiling.”
During his tenure as governor, New York passed some of the toughest gun laws in the country, some of which have been challenged in court.
Delgado, a former Democrat who identifies as Afro-Latino, took office as lieutenant governor in May following the resignation of Brian Benjamin, saying he looked forward to “getting to work” with a “transparent” government and “responsible”. .
New York Attorney General Letitia A. James, 64, was also sworn in Sunday for her second elected term. She made history in 2018 as the first woman elected state attorney general and the first person of color to hold the position.
“Four years ago, I pledged to make this office a force for justice. I pledge to stand up for all New Yorkers, regardless of political affiliation,” said James, of Brooklyn.
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli was sworn in for his fourth term. “We continue to live in an age of unprecedented challenges of evil and economic uncertainty. But New Yorkers are resilient,” he said.
