Kathy Hochul Distances Herself from Andrew Cuomo's Legacy

New York's Democratic governor is scaling back some of her predecessor's final acts in office.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Kathy Hochul, the current governor of New York, is making a concerted effort to distance herself from the legacy of her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo. Hochul, who served as Cuomo's lieutenant governor for over six years, has taken steps to build her own political identity, including purging Cuomo officials from her administration and focusing on strengthening the state Democratic Party's infrastructure - an area that Cuomo largely ignored. Politically, Hochul and Cuomo are both moderate Democrats, but their temperaments and leadership styles could not be more different, with Cuomo being known for his hard-charging and arm-twisting approach, while Hochul is described as a buoyant and more collaborative leader.

Why it matters

Hochul's efforts to distance herself from Cuomo's legacy are seen as an attempt to establish her own political identity and leadership style, which could have significant implications for the direction of New York state politics. As a moderate Democrat, Hochul's approach may appeal to a broader range of voters, but it also raises questions about how she will navigate the party's internal dynamics and the challenges she may face from more progressive factions.

The details

Since taking office, Hochul has made a concerted effort to scale back some of Cuomo's final acts, including moving early to purge Cuomo officials from her administration. However, she has kept on some of Cuomo's health and budget advisers, highlighting the complexity of the transition. Politically, Hochul has tried to build up the state Democratic Party's infrastructure, an area that Cuomo largely ignored during his time in office. This move is seen as an attempt to establish her own political identity and leadership style, which is in stark contrast to Cuomo's hard-charging and arm-twisting approach.

  • Hochul became governor in 2021 after Cuomo's resignation.
  • Hochul endorsed Zohran Mamdani's successful mayoral bid last summer as Cuomo was mounting an independent comeback bid against him.

The players

Kathy Hochul

The current Democratic governor of New York, who is making a concerted effort to distance herself from the legacy of her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo.

Andrew Cuomo

The former Democratic governor of New York, known for his hard-charging and arm-twisting leadership style, who resigned amid a barrage of scandals.

Zohran Mamdani

A successful mayoral candidate in New York, whom Hochul endorsed last summer as Cuomo was mounting an independent comeback bid against him.

Gerry Kassar

The chair of the New York Conservative Party, who commented on Hochul's efforts to distance herself from Cuomo's legacy.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It is no secret that the governor and I weren't close. He had his own tight inner circle. I created my own space.”

— Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York (NY1)

“She made a very good effort as though she was never his lieutenant governor. And he made a good effort to make it seem like he never had a lieutenant governor.”

— Gerry Kassar, Chair, New York Conservative Party (Politico)

What’s next

Hochul's efforts to distance herself from Cuomo's legacy and establish her own political identity will likely continue to be a focus as she navigates the challenges of governing New York state.

The takeaway

Hochul's break from Cuomo's legacy reflects a broader shift in New York state politics, as the new governor seeks to chart her own course and build up the state Democratic Party's infrastructure in a way that her predecessor did not. This transition could have significant implications for the direction of the state's political landscape.