Gov. Kathy Hochul sworn in as first woman elected governor of New York

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Sunday was a historic day in the state capital as Kathy Hochul was sworn in as the first woman elected governor of New York.

Also taking the oath of office was Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, Attorney General Letitia James, and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

It was a day full of symbolism.

It began with young New Yorkers reading excerpts of essays they wrote about what it means to see New York's first female governor inaugurated, as Hochul capped a hard-fought election campaign by hammering home the important symbolism of her victory over Republican Lee Zeldin.

"This day belongs to little girls and to young women who will grow up knowing that from this day forward there are no barriers they can't overcome," Hochul said.

But it wasn't just about being the first woman elected governor of the Empire State. It was about being determined to be an inclusive governor, symbolized by her decision to name 8-year-old Kayden Hern of Harlem the poet laureate of the 2023 inaugural ceremonies.

"In my mind, I could never understand why they used to call me ashy and Black. I always heard being Black, living near a railroad track, those are the things that would hold you back. But now I understand why being called ashy and Black. Black is the color of my skin -- so soft, beautiful, silky and smooth," Hern said.

The governor's speech was short on specific initiatives. Those will come in the next few weeks as she gives her state-of-the-state speech in 10 days and then unveils her budget.

But she did signal her desire to address some of the hot-button issues of the gubernatorial campaign -- making the state more affordable, reversing the trend of people leaving New York, and, first and foremost, public safety.

"We must and will make our state safer. This means New Yorkers can walk our streets, ride our subways. Our kids can go to school free from fear," Hochul said.

It's unclear just how the governor will address public safety since she has to deal with a progressive Legislature that has shown little enthusiasm for the kind of reforms she and New York City Mayor Eric Adams have sought in the past, but she admitted that she and lawmakers have, "a lot of work to do."

There's no question that the governor faces a lot of challenges, including a worsening fiscal climate, the migrant crisis, and finding money for the MTA.