Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Governor of New York

From Ballotpedia
Revision as of 12:56, 14 July 2025 by Ellie Mikus (contribs) (→‎Elections)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
New York Governor

Seal of New York.png

General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $250,000
2025 FY Budget:  $23,303,000
Term limits:  None
Structure
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:  New York Constitution, Article IV, Section I
Selection Method:  Elected
Current Officeholder(s)

Governor of New York Kathy Hochul
Democratic Party
Assumed office: August 24, 2021

Elections
Next election:  November 3, 2026
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Other New York Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Comptroller • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Financial Services Superintendent • Environmental Conservation Commissioner•Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission • Insurance

The Governor of the State of New York is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in New York. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and has no term limit.[1]

New York has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

New York has a Democratic triplex. The Democratic Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

See also: New York State Legislature, New York State Assembly, New York State Senate

Current officeholder

The current Governor of New York is Kathy Hochul (D). Hochul assumed office in 2021.

Authority

The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article IV, the Executive Department.

Under Article IV, Section I:

The executive power shall be vested in the governor...[1]

Qualifications

State Executives
StateExecLogo.png
Current Governors
Gubernatorial Elections
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014
Current Lt. Governors
Lt. Governor Elections
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014

Candidates for the governor's office must be:

  • a citizen of the United States
  • at least 30 years old
  • a resident of New York for at least five years prior to the election[1]

Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article IV, Sections 5 and 6.

If a governor-elect declines to accept the office, the lieutenant governor-elect shall take office as the governor and serve the term. If the governor-elect fails to qualify or is temporarily unable to take the oath, the lieutenant governor-elect serves as the acting governor until the elected governor's disability is removed.

The lieutenant governor also ascends to the office whenever there is a temporary or permanent vacancy during a governor's term.

In the event that the governor dies, resigns, or is removed, then the lieutenant governor becomes governor and serves the remainder of the term.

If the governor is absent, impeached, or unable to discharge the office, the lieutenant governor becomes acting governor until the disability is removed or until the term expires.

If both offices are vacant, a special election shall be held at the next general election, provided it is not less than three months from the date both offices became vacant. The office of the lieutenant governor may never be elected without a governor also being elected. If the office of the lieutenant governor alone is vacant, the Senate President Pro Tem serves as the temporary lieutenant governor.

In such an instance, the state Senate President Pro Tem shall serve as a temporary governor, followed by the state Speaker of the Assembly.

Duties

The governor charged with a number of responsibilities such as the preparation of the state's budget, execution and enforcement of the state of New York laws, and Commander-in-Chief of New York's military and naval forces.

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

  • Convening the Senate or the entire legislature for an extraordinary session (§ 3)
  • Giving periodic addresses to the legislature on the state of the state (§ 3)
  • Granting reprieves, pardons, and commutations for all offenses except treason and impeachment (§ 4)
  • Vetoing bills, including appropriations, subject to a super majority override of the legislature (§ 7)[1]

Elections

New York elects governors in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not presidential election years. For New York, 2018, 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the first day in the January following an election.[1]

Term limits

See also: States with gubernatorial term limits

New York governors do not face any term limits.[1]

Partisan composition

The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of New York governors from 1992 to 2013.
Governor of New York Partisanship.PNG

2022

See also: New York gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of New York

Incumbent Kathy Hochul defeated Lee Zeldin in the general election for Governor of New York on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kathy Hochul
Kathy Hochul (D / Working Families Party)
 
53.1
 
3,140,415
Image of Lee Zeldin
Lee Zeldin (R / Conservative Party)
 
46.7
 
2,762,581
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
9,290

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 5,912,286
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of New York

Incumbent Kathy Hochul defeated Jumaane Williams and Tom Suozzi in the Democratic primary for Governor of New York on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Kathy Hochul
Kathy Hochul
 
67.4
 
607,928
Image of Jumaane Williams
Jumaane Williams
 
19.3
 
173,872
Image of Tom Suozzi
Tom Suozzi
 
13.0
 
116,972
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.4
 
3,730

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 902,502
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of New York

Lee Zeldin defeated Andrew Giuliani, Rob Astorino, and Harry Wilson in the Republican primary for Governor of New York on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Lee Zeldin
Lee Zeldin
 
43.4
 
196,874
Image of Andrew Giuliani
Andrew Giuliani
 
22.8
 
103,267
Image of Rob Astorino
Rob Astorino
 
18.6
 
84,464
Image of Harry Wilson
Harry Wilson
 
14.7
 
66,736
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.5
 
2,261

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 453,602
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Lee Zeldin advanced from the Conservative Party primary for Governor of New York.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Jumaane Williams advanced from the Working Families Party primary for Governor of New York.

Past elections

Expand All
2018
2014
2010
2006
2002


Divisions

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of New York has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

State budget

Role in state budget

See also: New York state budget and finances

New York operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[2]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies between August and September.
  2. State agencies submit budget requests in October and November.
  3. Agency hearings are held between October and November.
  4. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the New York State Legislature in mid-January. The deadline is February 1 in years following a gubernatorial election.
  5. The legislature adopts a budget in March. A simple majority is needed to pass a budget.
  6. The fiscal year begins in April.

New York is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[2][3]

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget. In turn, the legislature is required by statute to pass a balanced budget.[2]

Governor's office budget

The budget for the executive chamber for the 2025 fiscal year is $23,303,000.[4]

Compensation

See also: Comparison of gubernatorial salaries and Compensation of state executive officers

Under Article IV, Section 3 of the New York Constitution the governor's salary is legally fixed by a joint resolution of the Senate and Assembly.

2023

In 2023, the officer's salary was $250,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $250,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]

2021

In 2021, the governor received a salary of $225,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]

2020

In 2020, the governor received a salary of $225,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]

2019

In 2019, the governor received a salary of $200,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]

2018

In 2018, the governor received a salary of $179,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]

2017

In 2017, the governor received a salary of $179,000, according to the Council of State Governments. Gov. Cuomo voluntarily reduced his salary by 5 percent.[11][12]

2016

In 2016, the governor received a salary of $179,000, according to the Council of State Governments. Gov. Cuomo voluntarily reduced his salary by 5 percent.[11][13]

2015

In 2015, the governor received a salary of $179,000, according to the Council of State Governments. Gov. Cuomo voluntarily reduced his salary by 5 percent.[11][14]

2014

In 2014, the governor's salary was an estimated $179,000 according to the Council of State Governments. Gov. Cuomo voluntarily reduced his salary by 5 percent.[11][15] Gov. Cuomo (D) voluntarily reduced his salary by 5 percent.[11]

2013

In 2013, the governor's salary remained at $179,000. Gov. Cuomo voluntarily reduced his salary by 5 percent.[11]

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, New York
Partisan breakdown of the New York governorship from 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, in New York there were Democratic governors in office for 10 years, including the last seven, while there were Republican governors in office for 12 years.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of New York, the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of New York state government(1992-2013).PNG

SQLI and partisanship

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the New York state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. New York experienced a Democratic trifecta from 2009-2010. During half the years of the study, New York was ranked in the bottom-10. Its lowest ranking, finishing 43rd, occurred from 2005-2006, during a divided government. Its best ranking also occurred during a divided government, finishing 32nd in 2011.

Chart displaying the partisanship of the New York government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Historical officeholders

There have been 56 Governors of New York since 1777. Of the 56 officeholders, 18 were Republican, 23 were Democrat, five were Democratic-Republican, five were Jeffersonian-Republican, three were Whigs, one was Federalist, and one was Union.[16]

State profile

Demographic data for New York
 New YorkU.S.
Total population:19,747,183316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):47,1263,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:64.6%73.6%
Black/African American:15.6%12.6%
Asian:8%5.1%
Native American:0.4%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
Two or more:2.9%3%
Hispanic/Latino:18.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:85.6%86.7%
College graduation rate:34.2%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$59,269$53,889
Persons below poverty level:18.5%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in New York.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in New York

New York voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, 18 are located in New York, accounting for 8.74 percent of the total pivot counties.[17]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. New York had 14 Retained Pivot Counties and four Boomerang Pivot Counties, accounting for 7.73 and 16.00 percent of all Retained and Boomerang Pivot Counties, respectively.

More New York coverage on Ballotpedia

Contact information

Kathy Hochul
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Phone: 1-518-474-8390

See also

New York State Executive Elections News and Analysis
Seal of New York.png
StateExecLogo.png
Ballotpedia RSS.jpg
New York State Executive Offices
New York State Legislature
New York Courts
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
New York elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016
Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 New York State Department of State, "New York State Constitution," accessed January 18, 2021
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  3. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
  4. ↑ New York State Division of the Budget, "Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted Budget Financial Plan," accessed January 22, 2025
  5. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
  6. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  7. ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
  8. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
  9. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
  10. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
  12. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 18, 2021
  13. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 18, 2021
  14. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 18, 2021
  15. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
  16. ↑ New York State, "Hall of Governors," accessed January 18, 2021
  17. ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
v • e
Governors
Current Governors
GovernorsLogo.jpg
Elections
2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 • 2010
Features


Flag of New York
v • e
State of New York
Albany (capital)
Elections

What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

Government

Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Governor_of_New_York&oldid=10435157"