NEW YORK — New York lawmakers on Capitol Hill are looking forward to working with the new Hochul administration, with some hoping for better coordination than under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.


What You Need To Know

  • In the days leading up to her taking the oath of office, Kathy Hochul held a meeting with members of the congressional delegation, with many praising her willingness to listen

  • Hochul’s predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, received inconsistent reviews when it came to his relationships with the delegation

  • Hochul is the first New Yorker since Hugh Carey back in the 1970s to call the governor’s mansion home after previously serving in Congress

  • Hochul takes on her new job at a difficult time, having to lead the state through the next phase of the pandemic — a job that will involve working with Washington

In the days leading up to her taking the oath of office, Kathy Hochul held a meeting with members of the congressional delegation. Democrats and at least one Republican walked away praising her willingness to listen.

“That's her personality: to be inclusive, to listen to good ideas and to develop a strategy to implement good ideas,” said Rep. Brian Higgins, a Democrat representing western New York who has known Hochul for decades.

“Her outreach even before taking the reigns of governor was very welcome by the members of the delegation,” said Staten Island Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, noting they “appreciated” that Hochul took time to listen to what their needs are in their districts.

Hochul’s predecessor Cuomo received inconsistent reviews when it came to his relationships with the delegation. While some lawmakers offered praise, others suggested his relationships varied depending on the member.

“The relationship between Gov. Cuomo and the delegation certainly strengthened in the midst of the pandemic, when it was clear that it was all hands on deck,'' said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat and of the top Democrats in the U.S. House.

Higgins called Cuomo’s interactions with the delegation “sporadic” and said there could have been better coordination between the two sides.

Cuomo “didn't serve as a member of Congress. And so I think that relationship was not valued in the same way that Gov. Hochul does,” said Bronx Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Hochul is the first New Yorker since Hugh Carey back in the 1970s to call the governor’s mansion home after previously serving in Congress.

Hochul won a special election in 2011 and represented a western New York district for less than two years in Congress, ultimately losing her attempt at re-election.

During that limited time, though, she did make an impression on some.

“Coming from upstate New York, there were certain votes that she didn't have to take,” said Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks. “She could have had the easy way out. She didn’t choose the easy way out.”

Hochul takes on her new job at a difficult time, having to lead the state through the next phase of the pandemic — a job that will involve working with Washington.

Several New York Democrats cited Hochul’s experience on the Hill when offering praise for the new executive.

“She is uniquely positioned to be extremely effective in working with her federal counterparts,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

“We have great respect for her,” Jeffries said. “She’s got experience at every level of government: county, state, and federal.”

But whether that praise — especially from some Republicans — will persist remains to be seen.

Malliotakis indicated she was already concerned that Hochul could take a progressive bent heading into next year’s gubernatorial primary.

Republican Rep. Chris Jacobs, meanwhile, expressed frustration with one-party rule in Albany, and called on Hochul to reach out to “both sides of the aisle.”

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