Hochul Navigates Cuomo’s Political Legacy in New York
ALBANY, New York — Governor Kathy Hochul is strategically dismantling the political minefield left behind by her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, as she tightens her grasp on the state’s complex legislative landscape. This includes rolling back notable criminal justice and climate change laws that were once the toast of the progressive left.
Her recent moves to scale back ambitious emissions reduction targets and to adjust the controversial cashless bail provision underscore the rapidly evolving political climate since Hochul took office in 2021. Voters, increasingly restless in a post-Covid world, are demanding that their representatives tackle pressing issues such as affordability and public safety. Several of Cuomo’s final legislative acts have become politically unviable as Hochul eyes a full term in office.
“It’s absolutely true that the dysfunctional Cuomo administration left her with a mess of laws that were never going to be implemented,” remarked Morgan Hook, a Democratic strategist in New York. “They left her with a mess she’s going to be cleaning up for years.”
Hochul’s attempts to roll back some of Cuomo’s most progressive initiatives signify her desire to create a clear break from a predecessor whose shadow loomed large over New York politics for a decade. Cuomo’s abbreviated third term is mainly remembered for a pandemic leadership that eventually contributed to his political downfall. Following his reelection in 2018, Cuomo signed a series of laws beloved by the left, including those aimed at reducing pretrial detention, legalizing cannabis, and implementing ambitious energy goals to combat climate change.
In the wake of Trump’s 2016 election, many left-leaning Democrats rallied to position blue states like New York as bastions of progressive policy. However, current voter anxieties around crime, Trump’s resistance to renewable energy initiatives, and soaring inflation have prompted a reevaluation of these policies.
Now, Hochul appears to be wielding a scalpel on the remnants of Cuomo’s administration, distinctly setting herself apart from a predecessor who was often regarded with both reverence and resentment.
“On every decision she makes, Gov. Hochul tunes out the noise and does what’s best for working families across the state,” stated Hochul spokesperson Jen Goodman.
Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, took a moment to highlight the former governor’s accomplishments, which include tougher gun laws, paid family leave, minimum wage increases, and significant infrastructure projects. “We always believed that the work doesn’t end with signing a bill — it’s all in the implementation,” he noted, acknowledging that tweaks to existing laws are not uncommon.
Despite having been hand-picked by Cuomo to serve as his lieutenant governor in 2014, Hochul has consistently maintained that she was never particularly close to him. After Cuomo faced mounting sexual harassment allegations, Hochul refrained from defending him, opting instead to support other political candidates.
“It is no secret that the governor and I weren’t close,” Hochul stated shortly after her inauguration. “He had his own tight inner circle. I created my own space.”
Creating a distinct political identity as governor necessitates a departure from Cuomo, with whom Hochul worked closely for over six years. Republican adversaries have attempted to draw connections between the two, emphasizing their shared moderate stances on issues such as taxation, abortion rights, and gun control.
In her political strategy, Hochul is working to fortify the state Democratic Party’s infrastructure, an area neglected during Cuomo’s tenure. She has also moved decisively to remove Cuomo loyalists from her administration, although some of his health and budget advisors remain.
“She made a very good effort as though she was never his lieutenant governor,” quipped Gerry Kassar, chair of the New York Conservative Party. “And he made a good effort to make it seem like he never had a lieutenant governor.”
In terms of temperament, Hochul and Cuomo are polar opposites. Cuomo, known for his aggressive political style, was one of New York’s most formidable governors, often employing high-pressure tactics to achieve his ambitious objectives, leaving a trail of adversaries in his wake. This reputation ultimately failed to protect him when scandals arose, leading to his resignation.
Hochul, by contrast, is a personable 67-year-old grandmother who initially stumbled in navigating the corridors of power, enduring a significant setback when her judicial nominee was rejected by the Democrats. However, in recent months, she has gained confidence, beginning the year with her highest-ever favorability rating, according to a Siena University poll. She currently leads her likely Republican challenger, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, by a significant margin.
This favorable standing has provided Hochul with political leverage. Without a significant electoral challenge on her left, she is signaling to Democratic lawmakers her desire to amend Cuomo-approved climate legislation that she fears could lead to rising energy costs.
The initiative to revise the climate law follows her earlier decision to modify a cashless bail law that had been criticized amid rising crime rates during the pandemic. Even Cuomo, before he left office, recognized the need for adjustments to the bail law. Hochul’s changes come in the wake of intense criticism from Republicans, including Blakeman, who blame high utility bills on the climate legislation.
Hochul has been vocal about the potential costs of adhering to the ambitious emissions reduction goals set by the previous administration. “What I’m trying to do is sound the alarm,” she told reporters. “What I’m foreseeing is that to meet the goals set by the legislature within the outlined timetable, there will be enormous costs to families.”
Her attempts to unwind these measures have sparked resistance from the left in the Democratic-dominated state Legislature. Recently, 29 senators signed a letter opposing any changes to the climate law, with state Senator Liz Krueger asserting that Hochul has been misled about the implications of her proposals.
Republicans, for their part, remain skeptical that Hochul is genuinely committed to severing ties with the Cuomo administration now that her tenure is more established. “It’s the old Colin Powell thing,” said Republican strategist Dave Catalfamo. “You break it, you own it. It’s not like she’s been there for five minutes. She’s been there for five years now.”
While many of the measures Hochul is now addressing may not represent Cuomo’s most celebrated achievements, they reflect the shifting dynamics within the Democratic Party. Cuomo’s notable contributions to infrastructure and social policy are etched in the state’s fabric, yet his administration’s leftward shift on issues like criminal justice and environmental policy forced him into difficult positions.
As Hochul navigates her governorship, she is confronted with the reality that the political landscape has transformed since she first took office, and her ability to adapt will be key to her success.
