View source for Governor of New York

{{Short description|Head of government of the U.S. state of New York}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Mayor of New York City]]}}
{{For|a list|List of governors of New York|List of colonial governors of New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2018}}
{{stack begin}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Governor
| body = New York
| insignia = Privy Seal of New York.svg
| insigniasize = 110px
| insigniacaption = Seal of the governor of New York
| flag = Flag of the Governor of New York.svg
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = Standard of the governor of New York
| image = Kathy Hochul March 2024.jpg
| imagesize = 200px
| incumbent = [[Kathy Hochul]]
| incumbentsince = August 24, 2021
| style = {{ublist|[[Governor (United States)|Governor]]<br>{{small|(informal)}}|[[The Honourable#United States of America|The Honorable]]<br>{{small|(formal)}}|[[Her Excellency]]<br>{{small|(courtesy)}}}}
| department = [[Government of New York (state)|Government of New York]]
| residence = [[New York State Executive Mansion|New York Executive Mansion]]
| termlength = Four years, no term limit
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of New York|New York Constitution of 1777]]
| precursor = [[List of colonial governors of New York|Royal Governor of the Province of New York]]
| inaugural = [[George Clinton (vice president)|George Clinton]]
| formation = {{start date and age|1777|7|30|p=1|br=1}}
| succession = [[Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#New York|Line of succession]]
| deputy = [[Lieutenant Governor of New York]]
| salary = $250,000 (2023)
| website = {{Official_website}}
}}
{{Politics of New York}}
{{stack end}}

The '''governor of New York''' is the [[head of government]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York (state)|New York]]. The governor is the head of the [[Executive (government)|executive branch]] of [[New York's state government]] and the [[commander-in-chief]] of the state's [[New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs|military]] forces. The [[Governor (United States)|governor]] has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or [[veto]] bills passed by the [[New York Legislature]], to convene the legislature and grant [[pardon]]s, except in cases of [[Impeachment in the United States|impeachment]] and [[treason]]. The governor of New York is the highest paid governor in the country.

The current governor is [[Kathy Hochul]], a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] who took office on August 24, 2021, following the resignation of [[Andrew Cuomo]].<ref name="Hochul sworn in">{{cite news |last1=Reyes |first1=Yacob |title=Kathy Hochul sworn in as New York's first female governor |url=https://www.axios.com/kathy-hochul-sworn-new-york-governor-woman-fedac4d8-edd7-432d-9a15-8f65665afde6.html |access-date=25 August 2024 |work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |date=24 August 2021}}</ref> She was [[2022 New York gubernatorial election|elected]] to a full term in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pickus |first1=Ian |title=Democrat Kathy Hochul wins full term as New York Governor defeating Lee Zeldin |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/09/1134203429/new-york-governor-election-results-kathy-hochul-lee-zeldin |work=[[NPR]] |date=November 9, 2022 |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref>

==History== 
{{expand section|date=August 2024}}

The position of governor in New York dates back to the British takeover of New Amsterdam, when the position replaced the former Dutch offices of director or director-general.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Thorpe |first=Francis Newton |date=1998-12-18 |title=The Federal and State constitutions, colonial charters, and other organic laws of the state[s], territories, and colonies now or heretofore forming the United States of America /compiled and edited under the Act of Congress of June 30, 1906 |url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/ny01.asp |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=avalon.law.yale.edu}}</ref>

The ''[[New York State Constitution]]'', section XVII originates the role, reading: <blockquote>"And this convention doth further, in the name and by the authority of the good people of this State, ordain, determine, and declare that the supreme executive power and authority of this State shall be vested in a governor; and that statedly, once in every three years, and as often as the seat of government shall become vacant, a wise and descreet freeholder of this State shall be, by ballot, elected governor..."<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>

==Election== 
{{see also|New York gubernatorial elections}}
The governor is directly elected every four years, in even-numbered years when there is no presidential election.<ref name=NYSConstitution>{{cite web |title=New York State Constitution |url=https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/05/constitution-5-8-24.pdf |website=dos.ny.gov |publisher=New York Department of State |access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref> The governor is required to be a United States citizen and a resident of New York for five years preceding their election. No person can be elected as governor under the age of thirty.<ref name=NYSConstitution/>

==Powers and duties==
[[File:John Jay Certificate of Election as Gov. of NY 1795.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The original Certificate of Election of John Jay as Governor of New York (June 6, 1795)]]

The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or [[veto power in the United States#In state government|veto]] [[Bill (law)|bills]] passed by the [[New York State Legislature]], to convene the legislature, and to grant [[pardon]]s, except in cases of [[treason]] and [[Impeachment in the United States|impeachment]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dos.ny.gov/info/pdfs/Constitution%20January%202015%20amd.pdf#page=14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805211428/http://www.dos.ny.gov/info/pdfs/Constitution%20January%202015%20amd.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-05 |url-status=live|title=The Constitution of the State of New York|date=January 1, 2015|website=New York Department of State|publisher=New York Department of State — Division of Administrative Rules|page=14|access-date=March 3, 2019}}</ref> Unlike the other government departments that compose the executive branch of government, the governor is the head of the state [[New York State Executive Department|Executive Department]]. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy style of ''His/Her [[Excellency]]'' while in office.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Annual banquet of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. Addresses made on the occasion|author=New York Chamber of Commerce|date=1899|volume=131|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kq8mAQAAIAAJ|page=23|access-date=May 18, 2015}}</ref>

Often considered a potential candidate for [[President of the United States|U.S. president]], ten New York governors have been selected as presidential candidates by a major party, four of whom ([[Martin Van Buren]], [[Grover Cleveland]], [[Theodore Roosevelt]], and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]) were elected as [[President of the United States]]. Meanwhile, six New York governors have gone on to serve as [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]].<ref>Edward V. Schneier, John Brian Murtaugh, and Antoinette Pole, ''New York Politics: A Tale of Two States'' (2nd edition) (2010)</ref> Additionally, two New York governors, [[John Jay]] and [[Charles Evans Hughes]], have served as [[Chief Justice of the United States|chief justice]].

In 2024–2025, Governor Kathy Hochul prioritized record investments in climate initiatives, major infrastructure projects like the new Hudson Tunnel, and tax cuts for middle-class New Yorkers, demonstrating the office’s evolving impact on environmental policy and state economic planning.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 July 2024 |title=Hochul celebrates infrastructure — and Biden |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2024/07/08/hochul-celebrates-infrastructure-and-biden-00166872 |access-date=18 August 2025 |publisher=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 January 2025 |title=Breaking down Hochul's State of the State |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/01/breaking-down-hochuls-state-state/402181/ |access-date=18 August 2025 |publisher=City & State NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 January 2025 |title=Gov. Hochul unveils $1 billion proposal to combat climate crisis in New York |url=https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2025/01/gov-hochul-unveils-1-billion-state-of-the-state-proposal-to-combat-climate-crisis/ |access-date=18 August 2025 |publisher=Solar Power World}}</ref>

==Appointments==
The governor is responsible for appointing their Executive Chamber. These appointments do not require the confirmation of the [[New York State Senate]]. Most political advisors report to the secretary to the governor, while most policy advisors report to the director of state operations, who also answers to the secretary to the governor, making that position, in practice, the true chief of staff and most powerful position in the Cabinet.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pecorella |first=Robert |author2=Jeffrey M. Stonecash |title=Governing New York State |url=https://archive.org/details/governingnewyork00peco |url-access=limited |edition=5th |publisher=State University of New York Press |location=New York |year=2006 |isbn=0-7914-6691-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/governingnewyork00peco/page/n159 149] }} {{Google books|qMnq-XsPY44C|Preview }}.</ref>  The actual "chief of staff" is in charge of the Office of Scheduling and holds no authority over other cabinet officials.<ref>{{cite news |last=Benjamin |first=Elizabeth |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/03/in-and-out.html |title=In and Out |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |date=2008-03-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318085906/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/03/in-and-out.html |archivedate=2008-03-18 }}</ref>

The governor is also charged with naming the heads of the various departments, divisions, boards, and offices within the state government. These nominees require confirmation by the state Senate. While some appointees may share the title of ''commissioner'', ''director'', etc., only department level-heads are considered members of the actual state cabinet, although the heads of the various divisions, boards, and offices may attend cabinet-level meetings from time to time.

==Line of succession==
{{see also|Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#New York}}
The Constitution of New York has provided since 1777 for the election of a [[lieutenant governor of New York]], who also acts as president of the State Senate, to the same term (keeping the same term lengths as the governor throughout all the constitutional revisions). Originally, in the event of the death, resignation or impeachment of the governor, or absence from the state, the lieutenant governor would take on the governor's duties and powers. Since the 1938 constitution, the lieutenant governor explicitly becomes governor upon such vacancy in the office.

Should the office of lieutenant governor become vacant, the [[president pro tempore|temporary president]] of the state senate<ref>The state constitutions refer to this position as the "temporary president of the senate"</ref> performs the duties of a lieutenant governor until the governor can take back the duties of the office, or the next election; likewise, should both offices become vacant, the temporary president acts as governor, with the office of lieutenant governor remaining vacant. Although no provision exists in the constitution for it, [[Richard Ravitch#Lieutenant Governor|precedent set in 2009]] allows the governor to appoint a lieutenant governor should a vacancy occur.<ref name=CoA>{{cite news|url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/22/court-upholds-patersons-appointment-of-lieutenant-governor|title=In 4-3 Vote, Court Says Paterson Can Appoint Lt. Governor|date=September 22, 2009|access-date=September 22, 2009|work=The New York Times|author=Peters, Jeremy W.|author2=Chan, Sewell}}</ref> Should the temporary president be unable to fulfill the duties, the speaker of the assembly is next in the line of succession. The lieutenant governor is elected on the same [[ticket (election)|ticket]] as the governor, but nominated separately.

Line of succession:
# [[Lieutenant Governor of New York|Lieutenant Governor]]
# [[Majority Leader of the New York State Senate|Temporary President of the Senate]]
#[[List of Speakers of the New York State Assembly|Speaker of the Assembly]]
# [[Attorney General of New York|Attorney General]]
# [[New York State Comptroller|Comptroller]]
# Commissioner of Transportation<ref>{{Cite web |title=NYC DOT - Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez |url=https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/bio-commissioner.shtml |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=www.nyc.gov}}</ref>
# [[Commissioner of Health of the City of New York|Commissioner of Health]]
# Commissioner of Commerce<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Commissioners |url=https://dps.ny.gov/dps-commissioners |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Department of Public Service |language=en}}</ref>
# Industrial Commissioner<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York (State). Industrial Commission {{!}} The Online Books Page |url=https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=New%20York%20(State).%20Industrial%20Commission |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu}}</ref>
# [[New York Public Service Commission|Chairman of the Public Service Commission]]
#[[Secretary of State of New York|Secretary of State]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2012/dea|title=2012 New York Consolidated Laws :: DEA - Defense Emergency Act 1951 784/51}}</ref>

==Timeline==
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| <strong>Timeline of New York governors</strong>
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==See also==
*[[Politics of New York (state)]]
*[[List of governors of New York]]
*[[First ladies and gentlemen of New York]]
*[[List of colonial governors of New York]]
*[[New York gubernatorial elections]], for results of the elections for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York.

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|first=David|last=Paterson|author-link=David Paterson|title=Black, Blind, & In Charge: A Story of Visionary Leadership and Overcoming Adversity|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing|location=New York, New York|year=2020|isbn=9781510763098}}
* {{Cite book |last=Benjamin |first=Gerald |title=The Oxford Handbook of New York State Government and Politics |date=20 September 2012 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=9780195387230}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ward |first=Robert |title=New York State Government What it Does, How it Works |publisher=[[The Rockefeller University Press]] |year=2002 |isbn=9780914341888}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Schneier |first1=Edward |title=New York Politics: A Tale of Two States |last2=Pole |first2=Antoinette |last3=Maniscalco |first3=Anthony |publisher=[[Cornell University Press]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-1501767272 |edition=3rded |page=372}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Glazer |first1=Nathan |title=Beyond The Melting Pot: The Negroes, Puerto Ricans, Jews, Italians, and Irish of New York City |last2=Moynihan |first2=Daneil |date=August 15, 1964 |publisher=[[MIT Press]] |isbn=9780262570046 |page=360}}
* {{Cite book |last=Caro |first=Robert |title=The Power Broker Robert Moses and the Fall of New York |publisher=[[Vintage Books|Vintage]] |year=1975 |isbn=9780394720241}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website}}
* [https://govt.westlaw.com/nycrr/Browse/Home/NewYork/NewYorkCodesRulesandRegulations?guid=I6c8dba80b72a11ddba5e846354f3a78d&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default) Governor's Office] in the [[New York Codes, Rules and Regulations]]

{{NYStateOfficers}}
{{NYGovernors}}
{{New York state agencies}}
{{New York state public-benefit corporations}}
{{US Chief Executives}}
{{Current U.S. governors}}
{{Portal bar|New York (state)|Politics}}

[[Category:Governor of New York (state)|*]]
[[Category:1777 establishments in New York (state)]]