New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who twice took office after a man’s scandal, promises to ‘never abuse’ her position
Good morning, Broadsheet readers! TikTok influencers are taking on retail, 50% of U.K. women gamers experience harassment online, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reflects on her political rise. The Broadsheet will be off on Monday for Memorial Day in the U.S.—we'll be back in your inboxes on Tuesday.
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- Party politics. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has seen it all in politics. The former lieutenant governor and congresswoman took office in 2021 after her ex-boss Andrew Cuomo resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.
It wasn’t the first time she rose to higher heights following a man’s scandal; she won a 2011 special election to earn her seat in Congress after former New York Rep. Chris Lee resigned amid a Craigslist-messaging controversy.
Hochul’s 2021 appointment made her New York’s first female governor. Then, in 2022, she became New York’s first elected female governor when she won a full term in office.
Rising through Albany’s old boys’ club to ultimately earn a historical appointment under less-than-ideal conditions has given Hochul a wealth of insight into how politicians operate. Stereotypes, true or not, abound about politicians and especially female ones.
We heard the governor’s perspective on these themes this week at a Fortune Most Powerful Women dinner in New York City. She joined us Wednesday night—in a surprise appearance—to speak to a group of top female executives; we were also joined by MSNBC president Rashida Jones for an interview.
There’s a “perception of politicians being a certain way,” Hochul acknowledged, without naming specifics. But “it doesn’t have to be that way,” she said. And women in elected office can help to change that reality.
“My job is to break the mold and talk about how you can actually govern in a collaborative way,” she said, noting that women are especially skilled at doing so. She reflected on caricatures of her own leadership and said she’s been called the “iron fist and the velvet glove—and you do not want to take that glove off.” But women have “inner strength” they can bring to leadership roles in addition to their ability as collaborators.
Hochul made an explicit promise during her remarks, one that carries weight given the acts she’s followed in politics: “I will never abuse this position,” she pledged.
Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
@_emmahinchliffe
Correction: Yesterday's newsletter included news about Target's decision to remove some Pride displays following right-wing backlash. Trans-friendly swimsuits mentioned in the write-up only come in adult sizes. We sincerely regret the error.
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