Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.)

U.S. Representative (since June 2011)

Why She Matters

Democrat Hochul won the May 2011 special election to represent New York's conservative 26th district.

The seat was left open following the resignation of Rep. Chris Lee (R-N.Y.) in February 2011 after a shirtless photo of the married congressman surfaced on the "casual encounters" section of the web site Craigslist.

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Hochul, a Democrat and former Country Clerk of Erie County, N.Y., captured the majority vote in the traditionally Republican district. Political watchers called the election a referendum on the Republican's plan to drastically cut the Medicare program.

Hochul's previous Hill experience includes her work as a legal counsel and legislative assistant in the offices of former Rep. John LaFalce (D-N.Y.) and former Sen. Daniel Moynihan (D-N.Y.).

Prior to seeking elective office, Hochul also had her own practice in Washington, worked for the New York Assembly and served as an in-house counsel to a corporation engaged in homeland security.

In 2003, former Erie County Clerk David Swarts appointed Hochul as his deputy clerk, and in 2007, Hochul was elected to the office of Erie County Clerk.

In a local New York newspaper, Hochul described herself as an 'independent Democrat' who would embrace a Republican idea when she felt that it was the best decision.

"I'm not afraid of telling my own party when they're wrong...I'm not partisan," Hochul told the newspaper.

Hochul has voted against her party before, working against then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer in 2007 in an effort to force Spitzer to reverse his decision to allow the issuance of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

Though she isn't afraid of opposing a Democratic ideal, Hochul does stand with the party on many issues. Hochul leans left on social issues, supporting abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

She is a strong advocate for preserving Medicare, eliminating tax breaks for the wealthy and promoting small business.

Previously, Hochul served as a small-business booster, a job in which she tried to stick up for the little guys against the power of megastores such as Walmart.

"I'm very passionate about helping the underdog: People who don't feel like they're getting a fair shake in life, small business people who feel like they're doing their very best and they're just getting no support from government, that there are too many hurdles to overcome," Hochul said. "That's what I'm hearing in every community I've been in, and I want to do something about it."

In Her Own Words

"A couple weeks ago there was a law passed on Capitol Hill that turned back the clock to the 1960s. What it did was, it said no longer will our Medicare program be the way it is now. It ends Medicare as we know it. That's not me talkin'. That's the Wall Street Journal and all the major news sources."

More on: Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.)

At a Glance
Path To Power
The Issues
The Network
Additional Resources

Corrections?

Background

At a Glance

Career History: County Clerk of Erie County, N.Y., 2007 - May 2011; First Deputy County Clerk of Erie County, N.Y., 2003-2007
Hometown: Hamburg, N.Y.
Alma Mater: Syracuse University, B.A. 1980; Catholic University Columbus School of Law, J.D. 1983
Spouse: William
Religion: Catholic
Campaign Office: PO Box 64, Buffalo, NY 14231

Path To Power

New York native Kathy Hochul has been politically active since childhood. Hochul, one of six children, grew up in a house dedicated to social and political activism.

Along with her mother and sister, Hochul founded the Kathleen Mary House, a transitional home for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

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Hochul's political involvement grew during her undergraduate years at Syracuse University. Though unsuccessful, Hochul led a campaign to name the football stadium after football legend Ernie Davis.

She went on to obtain a law degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in 1983. Hochul stayed in Washington, moving to the Hill to work as a legal counsel and legislative assistant first for former Rep. John LaFalce (D-N.Y.) and then former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.).

After leaving the Hill, Hochul stayed in Washington to launch her own private law practice, specializing in technology.

Hamburg Town Board

Following her tenure on Capitol Hill, Hochul moved back to her New York hometown in 1994. The self-declared 'independent Democrat' was soon elected to the Hamburg Town Board, where she held a position until 2007.

In that position, Hochul ambitiously led a successful effort to remove tolls along parts of the New York Thruway system.

In 2007, Hochul opposed former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's (D) proposal to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Spitzer's controversial bill failed to pass.

Erie County Clerkship

Former Erie County clerk, David Swarts, appointed Hochul to the position of deputy clerk in 2003.

Hochul served in this position until Swarts left office in 2007. She was subsequently elected to fill the remainder of Swarts' term as County Clerk.

Hochul was handily reelected to the position in November 2010, winning 80 percent of the popular vote. Hochul's widespread appeal along many party and idealistic lines set her up for success in the reelection. She ran on four ballot lines: Democratic, Conservative, Independent and Working Families Party.

Special Election: New York's 26th District

Hochul became a highly visible public figure during her public service on the Hamburg Town Board and as Erie County Clerk.

Following the resignation of former Rep. Chris Lee (R-N.Y.) in February 2011, Hochul won the nomination of the Democratic and Working Families Party for the special May 2011 election of the vacant seat.

The race in the traditionally conservative district turned into a referendum on the controversial changes to Medicare presented by Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget proposal. Hochul and the Democrats exploited this issue to their advantage.

To further paint herself in a favorable light to moderates, Hochul claimed herself as an 'independent Democrat who wasn't afraid to vote against Democratic policies.

Hochul's tactic worked and she won with 47 percent of the vote on May 24, 2011. Her main opponent Jane Corwin, a popular Republican member of the State Assembly, received 43 percent of the vote. Independent candidate Jack Davis, who ran under the tea party banner, collected 9 percent of the vote.

The Issues

Hochul has described herself as an 'independent Democrat' and said she'd be willing to support a Republican proposal if she felt it was the best thing for her district.

"I'm not afraid of telling my own party when they're wrong...I'm not partisan," Hochul told the newspaper.

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That being said, Hochul does most often stand with the Democratic party, especially when it comes social issues. She supports abortion rights and same-sex marriage.

Abortion

Hochul supports abortion rights in most circumstances and federal funding for the procedures. She extends her support to late-term abortions, one of the most controversial issues surrounding the topic.

"It's not up to me as one individual to pass judgment on the struggles another may be having," Hochul said. "That's how I reconcile with my Catholic faith. God did not put me here to be a judge of others."

Small Business

Hochul is an avid supporter of small business. While she was growing up, Hochul's father worked for a small technology company and her mother started a small business.

"They taught me how essential businesses are to creating jobs," Hochul wrote in a letter on her campaign website. "I know firsthand the struggles that businesses experience and, more importantly, I know how critical a good job is to an American family."

As a small business booster, Hochul has previously defended small clients against power moguls like Walmart.

Hochul crated a 'business brochure' while she was county clerk, which outlined resources to assist new small businesses in Erie County, N.Y.

Medicare

Much of Hochul's success in her May 2011 election to the vacant House seat in New York's 26th district can be attributed to her stance on Medicare.

Hochul was firmly against creating a Medicare system based on a defined-contribution voucher plan. That idea was an integral part of Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Ohio) budget plan, which has passed the House in April 2011.

"A couple weeks ago there was a law passed on Capitol Hill that turned back the clock to the 1960s," Hochul said while campaigning in May 2011. "What it did was, it said no longer will our Medicare program be the way it is now. It ends Medicare as we know it. That's not me talkin'. That's the Wall Street Journal and all the major news sources."

Hochul's election was seen as a referendum on the Ryan Medicare plan, and Ryan's budget failed to pass the Senate shortly after the May 2011 election.

The Network

Hochul has worked a legal counsel and legislative assistant for former Rep. John LaFalce (D-N.Y.) and former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.).

Additional Resources