Candidate · November 3, 2026
Kathy C. Hochul
On the ballot for Governor · New York
- issues with public statements
- 12
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | Governor · New York1 |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Democratic, Working Families1, |
| Status | Incumbent |
| Also on the ballot |
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§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Kathy Hochul was born and raised in Buffalo, New York.3 She was a student leader at Syracuse University, and later worked as an attorney and as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.3 She served on the Hamburg Town Board and as Erie County Clerk, won a 2011 special election to the U.S. House from New York's 26th District, and was elected lieutenant governor in 2014.3,
Why they say they're running
Her campaign website says she is running to build on what it describes as her progress in making New York more affordable and to keep standing up to President Trump.5 The site says she is working to deliver universal child care, lower auto insurance costs, and invest in safety on New York's streets and subways.6
Websites and accounts
- Campaign websitekathyhochul.com5
- Official websitegovernor.ny.gov/about-governor-hochul4
- Facebookfacebook.com/KathyHochul5
- X (Twitter)x.com/KathyHochul5
- Instagraminstagram.com/kathyhochulny5
- YouTubeyoutube.com/@KathyHochulNY5
- TikToktiktok.com/@teamhochul5
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Family and Social Policy
Her campaign website says she is working to deliver universal child care, and lists statewide universal pre-K among her accomplishments.3,
Taxes and Budget
Her campaign website says she cut middle-class taxes to the lowest rate in 70 years.6
Her campaign website lists no tax on tips among her accomplishments as governor.6
Education
Her campaign website lists free community college for high-demand occupations among her accomplishments.6
Housing
Guns
Her campaign website lists strengthening New York's red flag laws among her accomplishments.6
Her campaign website lists blocking 3-D printed guns among her accomplishments.6
Crime, Policing and Prisons
Her campaign website lists investing $3 billion in public safety and deploying more personnel to New York's streets and subways among her accomplishments.6
Immigration
Her campaign website lists holding ICE agents accountable among her accomplishments.6
Abortion and Reproductive Health
Her campaign website says she protected abortion rights in New York.6
Economy, Jobs and Trade
Her campaign website says she took President Trump to court over tariffs it calls illegal, and won twice.6
§4Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left.
Candidates for governor file campaign-finance reports with the state, not the FEC, so this guide doesn't include their fundraising. Search the state's reports: Public reporting system: candidates and campaign disclosures search — New York State Board of Elections.7