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Governor · NY · Democratic candidate · 2026

Kathy Hochul

Democratic candidate for governor of New York

New York’s governor and a former lieutenant governor and congresswoman, Hochul is running on childcare, lower household costs, housing and public safety.

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Portrait of Kathy Hochul
StateNew York
OfficeGovernor
ElectionNov. 3, 2026

Policy priorities

Where Kathy stands.

Office policy

Universal affordable child care

  • Supports expanding pre-K and childcare subsidies statewide, alongside free care for two-year-olds and stronger 3K access in New York City

Office policy

Lowering insurance and utility bills

  • Backs tackling insurance fraud and excessive home-insurance profits, limiting utility spending and making large data centers pay their share

Office policy

Stopping illegal firearm manufacturing

  • Supports penalties for unlicensed 3D-printed firearms and safety standards to block gun production and easy conversion of pistols into machine guns

Office policy

Protecting children on online platforms

  • Backs expanded age verification and stronger default privacy protections for children, with safeguards against harmful AI chatbots

Office policy

Building housing more quickly

  • Supports streamlining environmental reviews for locally approved housing with no significant environmental impacts, while retaining safeguards

Office policy

Accountability for federal officers

  • Backs allowing state civil suits for constitutional violations by federal officers, under existing legal standards including qualified immunity

Record and background

Record & experience.

  1. Elected 2011

    Experience

    U.S. representative

    Won a special election to represent New York’s 26th Congressional District.

  2. Elected 2014

    Experience

    New York lieutenant governor

    Chaired the statewide Regional Economic Development Councils as lieutenant governor.

  3. Since 2021

    Experience

    New York governor

    Became governor in 2021 and won a full term in 2022.

  4. May 2025

    Accomplishment

    Expanded the child tax credit

    Signed the budget expanding New York’s child tax credit, with larger benefits for eligible families.

  5. May 2025

    Accomplishment

    Funded free school meals

    Signed the budget funding free school breakfast and lunch statewide, removing income eligibility requirements.

  • Experience

    Attorney

    Worked as an attorney before entering elected office.

  • Experience

    Senate legislative assistant

    Worked for U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

  • Experience

    Hamburg Town Board member

    Began her public-service career on Hamburg’s Town Board.

  • Experience

    Erie County clerk

    Served as Erie County clerk before her election to Congress.

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