New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, the woman set to take over as governor following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, plans to run for reelection and a full term as governor in 2022.
Hochul, who will assume the role in 12 days, announced her plans for the election during a Thursday interview on the Today show.
“Yes, I will,” she said when asked if she plans to run. “I fully expect to — [I’m] prepared for this. I’ve led a life working in every level of government, from Congress to local government. I am the most prepared person to assume this responsibility, and I’m going to ask the voters at some point for their faith in me again.”
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“But, right now, I need their faith, I need their prayers, and I need their support to make sure we get this right, and I am confident they’ll see that I fight like hell every single day. It’s how I’m hard-wired, and I’m looking forward to this challenge, and I won’t let New Yorkers down,” the future first female governor of New York added.
Cuomo announced his intention to step down from his post on Tuesday, paving the way for Hochul to assume the role after New York Attorney General Letitia James released an explosive report corroborating the sexual harassment accusations of 11 women levied against him last week.
The embattled governor has repeatedly denied the accusations and maintained his innocence during his resignation, though he has apologized. Cuomo indicated he chose to step down due to lawsuits and impending impeachment proceedings that serve as “distractions” for New York residents who should be focused on the pandemic.
Hochul, 62, vowed to fire any aides who are said to have been involved in a culture of “retaliatory” behavior, a practice outlined in James’ report, which said those in Cuomo’s inner circle would “discredit and disparage” female staffers who sought to report sexual harassment from the embattled governor.
She also said she would move away from the “toxic workplace environment” of Cuomo, indicating she was not “close” with the disgraced governor.
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New York Rep. Lee Zeldin is considered to be the “presumed” nominee for the GOP in the gubernatorial election.
