Governor of New York
New York Governor | |
![]() | |
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 | |
Governor of New York
Kathy Hochul | |
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.
Current officeholder
The 57th and current governor is Kathy Hochul (D). She assumed office on August 24, 2021, after former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) resigned. To learn more about the series of events that led to Cuomo's resignation, click here.
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 |
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Current Governors |
Gubernatorial Elections |
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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]
2022
General election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jumaane Williams (Working Families Party)
- John Nistico (Constitutional Party)
- Larry Sharpe (L)
- Alex Zapesochny (Unite Party)
Democratic primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Agha Muhammad Saleh (D)
- Nicolae Bunea (D)
- Letitia James (D)
- Paul Nichols (D)
- Vladimy Joseph (D)
Republican primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Skiboky Stora (R)
- Derrick Gibson (R)
- Kris Lord (R)
- Kim Jarrett (R)
- Michael Carpinelli (R)
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.
2018
General election
Democratic primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Greg Waltman (D)
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Marcus Molinaro advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of New York.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John DeFrancisco (R)
- Pankaj Shah (R)
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Marcus Molinaro advanced from the Conservative Party primary for Governor of New York.
Green primary election
The Green primary election was canceled. Howie Hawkins advanced from the Green primary for Governor of New York.
Reform Party primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joel Giambra (Reform Party)
2014
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York, 2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
54.3% | 2,069,480 | |
Republican | Rob Astorino/Chris Moss | 40.3% | 1,536,879 | |
Green | Howie Hawkins/Brian Jones | 4.8% | 184,419 | |
Libertarian | Michael McDermott/Chris Edes | 0.4% | 16,967 | |
Sapient | Steven Cohn/Bobby K. Kalotee | 0.1% | 4,963 | |
Total Votes | 3,812,708 | |||
Election results via New York State Board of Elections |
2010
On November 2, 2010, Andrew Cuomo/Robert Duffy won election to the office of New York Governor/Lt. Governor. They defeated Carl Paladino/Gregory Edwards, Howie Hawkins/Gloria Mattera, Jimmy McMillan, Warren Redlich/Alden Link, Kristin Davis/Tanya Gendelman, and Charles Barron/Eva Doyle in the general election.
New York Governor/Lt. Governor, 2010 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
61% | 2,910,876 | |
Republican | Carl Paladino/Gregory Edwards | 32.5% | 1,547,857 | |
Green | Howie Hawkins/Gloria Mattera | 1.3% | 59,906 | |
Rent is 2 Damn High | Jimmy McMillan/No candidate | 0.9% | 41,129 | |
Libertarian | Warren Redlich/Alden Link | 1% | 48,359 | |
Anti-Prohibition | Kristin Davis/Tanya Gendelman | 0.4% | 20,421 | |
Freedom | Charles Barron/Eva Doyle | 0.5% | 24,571 | |
Blank | - | 2.3% | 107,823 | |
Void | - | 0.1% | 3,963 | |
Scattering | - | 0.1% | 4,836 | |
Total Votes | 4,769,741 | |||
Election results via New York State Board of Elections. |
2006
On November 7, 2006, Eliot Spitzer/David Paterson won election to the office of New York Governor/Lt. Governor. They defeated Faso/Vanderhoef, McCourt/Duncan, Clifton/Silberger, McMillan, and DeLuca/O'Shaughnessy in the general election.
New York Governor/Lt. Governor, 2006 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
65.7% | 3,086,709 | |
Republican | Faso/Vanderhoef | 27.1% | 1,274,335 | |
Green | McCourt/Duncan | 0.9% | 42,166 | |
Libertarian | Clifton/Silberger | 0.3% | 14,736 | |
Rent Is Too High | McMillan/NA | 0.3% | 13,355 | |
Socialist Workers | DeLuca/O'Shaughnessy | 0.1% | 5,919 | |
Blank/Void/Scattering | - | 5.5% | 260,647 | |
Total Votes | 4,697,867 | |||
Election results via New York State Board of Elections. |
2002
On November 5, 2002, George Pataki/Mary Donohue won re-election to the office of New York Governor/Lt. Governor. They defeated McCall/Mehiel, Golisano/Donohue, Cuomo/King, Cronin/Vogel, Aronowitz/Daniels, Leighton/Hillgardner, and Jeffrey/Greco in the general election.
New York Governor/Lt. Governor, 2002 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
48.2% | 2,262,255 | |
Democratic | McCall/Mehiel | 32.7% | 1,534,064 | |
Independence | Golisano/Donohue | 13.9% | 654,016 | |
Liberal | Cuomo/King | 0.3% | 15,761 | |
Right To Life | Cronin/Vogel | 0.9% | 44,195 | |
Green | Aronowitz/Daniels | 0.9% | 41,797 | |
Marijuana Reform | Leighton/Hillgardner | 0.5% | 21,977 | |
Libertarian | Jeffrey/Greco | 0.1% | 5,013 | |
Blank/Void/Scattering | - | 2.4% | 111,890 | |
Total Votes | 4,690,968 | |||
Election results via New York State Board of Elections. |
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.
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]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies between August and September.
- State agencies submit budget requests in October and November.
- Agency hearings are held between October and November.
- 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.
- The legislature adopts a budget in March. A simple majority is needed to pass a budget.
- 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
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
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.
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]
List of officeholders from 1777-present | |||
---|---|---|---|
# | Name | Tenure | Party |
1 | George Clinton | 1777 - 1795 | Democratic-Republican |
2 | John Jay | 1795 - 1801 | Federalist |
1 | George Clinton | 1801 - 1804 | Democratic-Republican |
3 | Morgan Lewis | 1804 - 1807 | Democratic-Republican |
4 | Daniel D. Tompkins | 1807 - 1817 | Jeffersonian-Republican |
5 | John Tayler | 1817 - 1817 | Democratic-Republican |
6 | Dewitt Clinton | 1817 - 1823 | Democratic-Republican |
7 | Joseph Christopher Yates | 1823 - 1825 | Jeffersonian Republican |
6 | Dewitt Clinton | 1825 - 1828 | Democratic-Republican |
8 | Nathaniel Pitcher | 1828 - 1829 | Democratic-Republican |
9 | Martin Van Buren | 1829 | Jeffersonian-Republican |
10 | Enos Thompson Throop | 1829 - 1833 | Jeffersonian-Republican |
11 | William Learned Marcy | 1833 - 1839 | Jeffersonian Republican |
12 | William Henry Seward | 1839 - 1843 | Whig |
13 | William C. Bouck | 1843 - 1845 | ![]() |
14 | Silas Wright | 1845 - 1847 | ![]() |
15 | John Young | 1847 - 1849 | Whig |
16 | Hamilton Fish | 1849 - 1851 | Whig |
17 | Washington Hunt | 1851 - 1853 | ![]() |
18 | Horatio Seymour | 1853 - 1855 | ![]() |
19 | Myron Holley Clark | 1855 - 1857 | ![]() |
20 | John Alsop King | 1857 - 1859 | ![]() |
21 | Edwin Denison Morgan | 1859 - 1863 | ![]() |
18 | Horatio Seymour | 1863 - 1865 | ![]() |
22 | Reuben Eaton Fenton | 1865 - 1869 | Union |
23 | John Thompson Hoffman | 1869 - 1873 | ![]() |
24 | John Adams Dix | 1872 - 1874 | ![]() |
25 | Samuel Jones Tilden | 1875 - 1877 | ![]() |
26 | Lucius Robinson | 1877 - 1880 | ![]() |
27 | Alonzo Barton Cornell | 1880 - 1883 | ![]() |
28 | Steven Grover Cleveland | 1883 - 1885 | ![]() |
29 | David Bennett Hill | 1885 - 1892 | ![]() |
30 | Roswell Pettibone Flower | 1892 - 1895 | ![]() |
31 | Levi P. Morton | 1895 - 1897 | ![]() |
32 | Frank Swett Black | 1897 - 1899 | ![]() |
33 | Theodore Roosevelt | 1899 - 1901 | ![]() |
34 | Benjamin Baker Odell | 1901 - 1905 | ![]() |
35 | Francis Wayland Higgins | 1905 - 1907 | ![]() |
36 | Charles Evans Hughes | 1907 - 1910 | ![]() |
37 | Horace White | 1910 - 1911 | ![]() |
38 | John Alden Dix | 1910 - 1912 | ![]() |
39 | William Sulzer | 1913 - 1913 | ![]() |
40 | Martin Henry Glynn | 1913 - 1915 | ![]() |
41 | Charles Seymour Whitman | 1915 - 1919 | ![]() |
42 | Alfred Emanuel Smith | 1919 - 1921 | ![]() |
43 | Nathan Lewis Miller | 1921 - 1923 | ![]() |
42 | Alfred Emanuel Smith | 1923 - 1929 | ![]() |
44 | Franklin Delano Roosevelt | 1929 - 1933 | ![]() |
45 | Herbert Henry Lehman | 1933 - 1942 | ![]() |
46 | Charles Poletti | 1942 - 1943 | ![]() |
47 | Thomas Edmund Dewey | 1943 - 1955 | ![]() |
48 | William Averell Harriman | 1955 - 1959 | ![]() |
49 | Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller | 1959 - 1973 | ![]() |
50 | Malcolm Wilson | 1973 - 1975 | ![]() |
51 | Hugh Leo Carey | 1974 - 1982 | ![]() |
52 | Mario Matthew Cuomo | 1983 - 1995 | ![]() |
53 | George Pataki | 1995 - 2007 | ![]() |
54 | Eliot Spitzer | 2007 - 2008 | ![]() |
55 | David Paterson | 2008 - 2011 | ![]() |
56 | Andrew Cuomo | 2011 - present | ![]() |
State profile
Demographic data for New York | ||
---|---|---|
New York | U.S. | |
Total population: | 19,747,183 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 47,126 | 3,531,905 |
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
- Elections in New York
- United States congressional delegations from New York
- Public policy in New York
- Endorsers in New York
- New York fact checks
- More...
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 |
---|---|---|
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 New York State Department of State, "New York State Constitution," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
- ↑ New York State Division of the Budget, "Fiscal Year 2025 Enacted Budget Financial Plan," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ New York State, "Hall of Governors," accessed January 18, 2021
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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