Kathy Hochul

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

• Says she has put money back in New Yorkers' pockets, citing inflation refund checks, middle-class tax cuts and a tripled state child tax credit.[1],[2]
• Says she is working to deliver universal child care, building on universal free school meals and statewide universal pre-K.[1],[2]
• Says she is investing in keeping New Yorkers safe, including more officers in the streets and subways and taking illegal guns off the streets.[2]
• Says she will keep standing up to President Trump, citing restored Gateway Tunnel and NYPD counterterrorism funding and lawsuits over tariffs.[2],[8]
• Says the state needs to "build a New York that everyone can afford."[8]

Background

• Governor, State of New York (took office after Andrew Cuomo's resignation; elected to a full term in 2022) · 2021–present[1],[7]
• Lieutenant Governor, State of New York · 2015–2021[1],[7]
• U.S. Representative, New York's 26th Congressional District (won a 2011 special election; lost re-election in a redrawn district in 2012) · 2011–2013[1],[7]
• County Clerk, Erie County · 2007–2011[1],[7]
• Member, Town Board, Town of Hamburg · 1994–2007[1],[7]
• Attorney; legal counsel and legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. John LaFalce and U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Washington, D.C., law firm and congressional offices · Dates not listed[1],[7]

Education

• B.A., Political Science, Syracuse University, Maxwell School (1980)[7]
• J.D., Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (1984)[7]

Where they stand

• Education
  Supports universal child care. Signed a budget adding $1.7 billion for child care and pre-K, for $4.5 billion in total, with the goal of universal pre-K for all 4-year-olds by the 2028–29 school year. Also signed a ban on cell phones in schools during the school day.[5],[3],[2]
• Taxes
  Says her investments come "without raising taxes." Signed a budget that ends state income tax on up to $25,000 of tip income for 2026, and cites middle-class tax rates she says are the lowest in 70 years.[3],[5],[2]
• Energy & Environment
  Signed a budget with $1 billion in energy rebate checks ($200 for joint filers earning under $150,000 and $150 for those earning $150,000 to $300,000) and a ratepayer protection plan. Raised the state's goal for new nuclear power from one gigawatt to five gigawatts.[5],[6],[3]
• Immigration
  Signed a law barring local police and jails from 287(g) agreements with federal immigration authorities, banning law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks when dealing with the public, and barring public employees from giving immigration agents access to non-public areas of government buildings without a judicial warrant, with similar protections for schools, hospitals and houses of worship.[9],[6]
• Public Safety
  Signed a budget with more than $900 million for public safety, including $77 million to put NYPD officers on the subway and $25 million to expand subway outreach teams.[5]
• Guns
  Supports stricter gun laws. Proposed and signed measures targeting untraceable 3D-printed guns, and signed a 2022 law raising the minimum age to buy a semiautomatic rifle.[4],[6],[7]
• Housing
  Backs her "Let Them Build" agenda to cut regulatory barriers so housing and infrastructure can be built faster and at lower cost.[4],[6]
• Abortion
  Supports abortion rights and lists protecting abortion rights in New York among her accomplishments.[2]

Voting record

A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.

In their words