Last week, a blue tsunami swept the country. One of the night’s biggest statements came right here in New York: Kathy Hochul, whom the chattering class once dismissed as an “accidental governor,” nearly tripled her margin from four years ago, beat Bruce Blakeman on his home turf in Nassau County, and earned more votes than any governor in New York’s history.
Not too bad for a mom from Buffalo.
One could chalk up Hochul’s success to her stand against the Trump administration. In the last two years, she’s sued the administration for withholding vital SNAP benefits, backfilled cuts to funding for survivors of domestic violence, and responded with a stern, “the cameras are staying on,” when Sean Duffy came for congestion pricing.
Or you could look at her record of delivering a more affordable New York, having instituted a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers when communities raised concerns about energy bills, launched SUNY and CUNY Reconnect, covering tuition and fees for eligible adults pursuing high-demand degrees, like nursing, education, and tech, and made school lunch free statewide – putting food into bellies and money into parents’ pockets.
Or you could look at her record of delivering a more affordable New York, having instituted a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers when communities raised concerns about energy bills, launched SUNY and CUNY Reconnect, covering tuition and fees for eligible adults pursuing high-demand degrees, like nursing, education, and tech, and made school lunch free statewide – putting food into bellies and money into parents’ pockets.
Any of these victories would have been enough to safely coast Governor Hochul to reelection. But her historic mandate was delivered by more than policy wins. It was earned by staying true to herself in an era of politics increasingly obsessed with social media virality and catchy slogans.
Voters recognize Kathy Hochul as the fighter she is: a grandmother, a diehard Bills fan, and a woman who has climbed the ladder to shatter the glass ceiling in New York State politics. She has dedicated her career to lifting up working families because she has lived their struggles.
That authenticity resonates with voters. It drove her decisive victory last week, and it should continue to guide her decisions in the executive chamber.
Over the next four years, Hochul should continue to champion service over stardom.
Housing must be priority number one. In the words of the governor: build, baby, build. We need sustained investment, meaningful partnerships across local government, nonprofit, and industry sectors, and a bold willingness to confront the obstacles keeping homes out of reach. That means building affordable housing at scale—from Buffalo to Brooklyn.
As we build new units, let’s make sure families can actually fill them by expanding the Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP). Housing vouchers are a vital lifeline for families experiencing homelessness or standing on the brink of losing their homes. Last year, the governor allocated $200 million to launch a four-year HAVP pilot. That was real progress—now, let’s finish the job. Hochul should fully fund HAVP to ensure families across the state can secure permanent housing.
If we are serious about expanding economic opportunity, we must also tackle one of the greatest burdens households face: access to affordable childcare. Building on last year’s 2-K investment, Governor Hochul should advance universal childcare statewide. Expanding care doesn’t just relieve stress on working parents—it boosts economic development across the entire state, allows parents to re-enter or remain in the workforce, and puts children on a path toward a brighter future. It is a practical, deeply popular policy that the Governor would be well-served to make a central pillar of her agenda.
Let’s be clear: even with Democratic supermajorities in both legislative chambers, none of this will come easily. But Kathy Hochul has never asked for easy. She has earned her stripes navigating the gauntlet of New York politics and delivering when it matters most.
Voters have soundly rejected the failed policies of Republicans up and down the ballot, handing Governor Hochul a historic opportunity to fundamentally strengthen New York State.
There will be naysayers, skeptics, consultants, and talking heads who cast doubt. Let them talk.
A word of advice: underestimate Kathy Hochul at your own peril.