Like any public official who’s second in command, Kathy Hochul always knew this day could come.

“The number one role of lieutenant governor is be prepared to step in as governor, should the need arise,” Hochul said.

That was in 2018, when Hochul was highlighting her experience during a primary fight against then-City Councilman Jumaane Williams. Williams came surprisingly close, losing by less than seven points, but Hochul’s dominance upstate carried the day.

She hails from the Buffalo area, where she was county clerk before running for Congress in a 2011 special election. 

Her upset win in one of the state’s most solidly Republican districts got the attention of the political world, though she would narrowly lose the seat the following year after the district was redrawn.

Then in 2014, Gov. Andrew Cuomo tapped her as his running mate, a move that helped shore up support upstate. Hochul would spend the next six years as Cuomo’s surrogate, criss-crossing the state to promote his agenda, with a particular focus on economic development.

Hochul is viewed as a moderate Democrat. As county clerk, she forcefully opposed drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants, and, as a congresswoman, was endorsed by the NRA. Still, she withstood Williams’ challenge from the left in 2018.

“To my core, I’ve always been a public servant. I believe in serving the people. And you have given me the chance to continue for the next four years,” Hochul said in 2018.

Now, it turns out she’ll spend almost two of those years in the governor’s mansion. If she wants to stay there, she’ll have to run next year and prevail in what could be a very competitive Democratic primary.

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