New York has its first female governor
Democrat Kathy Hochul was sworn in Tuesday as the first female governor to lead New York State. She pledged to work to change the political culture and restore New Yorkers' trust in their government, Reuters reported.
Hochul took the seat after a sexual harassment scandal drove her predecessor Andrew Cuomo from office. The Democrat, who is the 57th governor of New York state, has vowed to strengthen the state's response to the Covid-19 pandemic and speed up direct aid to residents in need. Hochul brings political experience from both the New York State City Council and the House of Representatives. Incumbent Democratic Governor Cuomo, shortly before his resignation, called his investigations based on allegations of sexual violence unfair.
American politics has ridden a wave of increased advocacy for women in recent years. Last year, the first ever female vice president, Kamala Harris, was elected alongside President Joe Biden. Indeed, the entire Biden Democratic administration is known for its diversity. Lloyd Austin, the first ever African-American, headed the Department of Defense, and Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant, became Secretary of Homeland Security. Deb Haaland became the first-ever indigenous woman to head the Department of Homeland Security. Then one of America's highest-ranking openly LGBT politicians, Pete Buttigieg, became Secretary of Transportation.
