Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Kathy Hochul for Governor
Candidate Name: Kathy Hochul
Office Seeking Election for: Lt. Governor
Website: https://kathyhochul.com
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified for the role you are seeking.
As Governor, Kathy has taken decisive action to deliver immediate relief to working- and middle-class families and small businesses, beat back the pandemic, and accelerate New York’s economic recovery. In addition, she has reaffirmed New York’s position as a national leader in defending reproductive rights and combating climate change.
Governor Hochul has also introduced a bold agenda to promote greater equity and expand opportunity for every New Yorker — from making the state more affordable to helping small businesses keep their doors open, strengthening public safety, and leading the fight for justice, dignity, and equality for all.
A lifelong New Yorker, Kathy was born and raised in a blue-collar Irish Catholic family in Buffalo that instilled in her a deep passion for public service. Kathy watched her mother raise six children. And she watched her dad dream big for his family — working in a steel plant by day and getting an education by night.
She took those lessons of courage, risk-taking, and her own fighting spirit to become a student organizer and activist at Syracuse University, and then a young attorney and a legislative assistant to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. She continued to pursue public service by serving her local community on the Hamburg Town Board before becoming Erie County Clerk.
In 2011, Kathy was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a proud Democrat in Western New York. In Congress, she was a pivotal vote against efforts to defund Medicare and repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Kathy was elected to statewide office in 2014, and again in 2018, becoming the Lieutenant Governor of New York State. As Lieutenant Governor, she put in the work to represent all New Yorkers — visiting all 62 counties every year and ensuring that every community had a seat at the table.
While she is making history as New York’s first female Governor, Kathy came to Albany to make a difference. She is dedicated to fighting for every single New Yorker and ensuring our State comes back from this pandemic stronger than ever before.
2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Many, including Jim Owles’ own NYS Senator Brad Hoylman.
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored?
Governor Hochul has laid out a series of policy proposals designed to protect the health, safety, economic opportunities and fundamental dignity of LGBTQ+ communities across New York State:
? The Governor understands that stable housing is a fundamental right and that too many LGBTQ+ New Yorkers face homelessness while struggling to find safe, affordable housing options. This is especially true for LGBTQ+ youths, who are much more likely to experience homelessness than other youth populations. To address this issue, Governor Hochul has established Safe Options Support (SOS) teams made up of social workers, medical providers and mental health practitioners to work with emergency shelters, outreach providers, and permanent supportive housing providers to help transition New Yorkers living on the street into stable housing. The Governor has also launched a comprehensive $25 billion, five-year housing plan to create and preserve 100,000 affordable housing units, including 10,000 units with supportive services for vulnerable New Yorkers. As part of this commitment, Governor Hochul will provide a significant investment to support the expansion of crisis and transitional living beds for homeless and runaway LGBTQ+ youth.
? Members of New York’s LGBTQ+ community experience high rates of physical and mental health disparities as well as barriers to accessing proper healthcare. Governor Hochul’s FY 2023 budget included investments in direct health services, cultural competency education and training, and organizational capacity building to ensure that queer New Yorkers receive the healthcare and support services they need.
? Governor Hochul knows that transgender, non-binary, and intersex people routinely endure harassment, violence, and discrimination while in correctional facilities. She signed legislation requiring incarcerated individuals in state and local correctional facilities receive gender-affirming treatment, including access to clothing and other items consistent with their gender identity, and establishing measures to protect the safety of incarcerated individuals.
? Governor Hochul believes strongly in the importance of being addressed and acknowledged by one’s preferred name, gender, and pronouns and has signed legislation affirming that right for New Yorkers interacting with municipalities, utility companies, and other service providers. To ensure that New Yorkers can accurately express their gender identity when accessing state services, Governor Hochul mandated that public-facing state agencies give New Yorkers the option of an “X” marker when identifying their gender.
? Governor Hochul signed legislation to create a Council on Gender Equity that will serve as an advisory body to the Governor and will work to meet a vision of true gender equity in New York. The Council will take an intersectional approach to elevate the needs of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, women, and girls, focusing on underserved populations and communities of color.
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?
Governor Hochul supports the efforts of many LGBTQ organizations around the state, from Evergreen Health in Buffalo to Callen Lorde in NYC, to name a few.
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to?
The state partners with many LGBTQ service providers throughout New York.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
Governor Hochul considers herself an ally of the LGBTQ community.
7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, dating back to her time as Erie County ClerkGovernor Hochul has participated in many pride parades and events across the state throughout her tenure in public service.
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes, I have the most diverse and LGBTQ-inclusive administration in the history of the state.
9. If you receive the Jim Owles endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes
10. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice reform issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended and/or participated in?
Governor Hochul has attended countless events in support of these issues throughout her tenure in public service.
11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate.
No, but Governor Hochul has a history of activism rooted in her undergraduate days at Syracuse University, where she led boycotts and protests, including a successful push for the university to divest from companies in South Africa in opposition to the country’s Apartheid system.
12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term?
Governor Hochul was sworn in on August 24th, and even in that short time, she has taken decisive action to deliver results for New Yorkers. She signed over 500 pieces of legislation, including Less is More, led the state’s response to new COVID variants, and successfully passed one of the most transformative budgets in history.
13. For the following pieces of legislation, please answer if you support and how you have publicly indicated such support:
A. Fair and Timely Parole (S.7514A / A.4231A): A bill pending in Albany that would ensure access to a fair parole release process for incarcerated people in New York State. This bill insures that decisions on parole are not solely based on the nature of the original crimes but centers incarcerated peoples’ record of rehabilitation and assessment of current risk to public safety.
B. Elder Parole (S.15A / A.8855): A bill pending in Albany that would allow elderly incarcerated people who have served at least 15 years in prison an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board for a chance at release.
14. If you do not support any of the above legislation, why not?
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation at this time, but she does support making our criminal justice system fairer and the intent behind both policy reforms.
15. Do you oppose life without parole sentences and other extreme prison sentences that don’t allow incarcerated peoples’ cases to be reassessed regardless of how much they change?
Yes
16. What is your position on the recent revisions to bail reform?
Governor Hochul stands by the fundamental premise of the state’s comprehensive bail reform passed in 2019, but she knows, like any law, it can be improved. The governor worked with legislative leaders to ensure the foundational protections of the bill remain while giving judges more authority to set bail for serious crimes — namely, gun charges that were previously subject to release.
17. The recent changes to bail reform will criminalize people for crimes of poverty. If someone is arrested for allegedly stealing diapers twice, judges are allowed to set bail and keep the person incarcerated pre-trial. Do you agree with this change to the bail law?
The changes to the bail reform law was necessary to ensure the scope was not overly broad, allowing certain violent criminals to be released back onto our streets. However, Governor Hochul knows that every law can be improved, and she has committed herself to making our criminal justice system fairer and protecting New Yorkers who have historically been incarcerated due to strict, unjust policies.
18. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? If incumbent, when did you do so last?
Yes
19. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails? Will you work to ensure that the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, which went into effect on April 1, is fully and effectively implemented?
Governor Hochul will ensure the HALT Solitary Confinement Act is fully and effectively implemented.
20. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility?
Governor Hochul is committing to visiting a correctional facility during her time as Governor.
21. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
All factors should be considered in determinations of parole.
20. Do you support the frequent, year-round use of executive clemency?
Yes
21. Will you publicly support calls to release 200 incarcerated New Yorkers within 200 days of the Governor’s re-election?
22. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
The governor’s office and campaign affirmatively seek to hire all individuals who meet the criteria for a given position.
23. Do you support Clean Slate legislation (S1553C / A.6399) that allow for the automatic sealing of certain convictions and protect against the discrimination of formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment?
Governor Hochul declared the Clean Slate Act a priority this session.
25. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Do you support the bill introduced by Julia Salazar (S.6419 / A. 8230), which fully decriminalizes sex work?
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation at this time but is continuing to consider and discuss this issue closely with advocates and partners.
26. Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of the decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach.
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation at this time but is continuing to consider and discuss this issue closely with advocates and partners.
27. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals?
Governor Hochul supports efforts to increase accountability and transparency in law enforcement.
28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”?
Governor Hochul is committed to protecting and fighting for New York’s immigrant communities. Shortly upon taking office, Hurricane Ida devastated communities throughout NYC, and the Governor set up a $27 million recovery fund for undocumented New Yorkers — the first-time-ever in state history.
In this past budget, Governor Hochul invested a record amount into the Liberty Defense Project to make legal services available to all New Yorkers and fully funds the Office for New Americans.
29. Do you support New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.4321a/S.6471)?
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation.
29. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Governor Hochul supports an all-of-the-above approach to combating overdose and addiction.
30. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
Yes, Governor Hochul has been a supporter of Senator Diane Savino.
31. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff?
Yes
32. Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections: A) Mayor in 2021 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018?
Governor Hochul supported Secretary Hillary Clinton & President Joe Biden.
34. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators?
Governor Hochul supports and has proposed a two-term limit for statewide elected officials.
35. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
Governor Hochul is committed to ensuring every policy proposal is viewed with intersectionality and supports a fair and equitable New York.
Many issues disproportionately impact our Black and Brown communities, and the Governor is making historic and equitable investments in education, job training, and health care to level the playing field for those that have been disproportionately harmed by disparate policies for too long.
In addition, Governor Hochul signed legislation declaring racism a public health crisis— and is making historic investments in our state’s healthcare system to address disparities.
36. What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing?
Governor Hochul has expanded access to financial assistance and TAP to part-time students, including those who are currently incarcerated, and has eliminated public tuition for low- and middle-class families in-state.
Additionally, the Governor believes the federal government should do more to cancel student loan debt.
37. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you support the New York Health Act? Please elaborate.
Governor Hochul believes every New Yorker should have access to affordable, quality healthcare but doesn't believe the New York Health Act is a feasible policy at this time.
38. Do you oppose efforts to change laws that banned private contract labor for incarcerated people? Please elaborate.
Governor Hochul believes those who are incarcerated should have access to job training, opportunities to work, and the ability to earn market wages they can keep..
38. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
Governor Hochul is a staunch supporter of reproductive rights and has worked throughout her career to protect the constitutional rights of her constituents. As Republicans across the country pass regressive policies, it is of the utmost importance to have a strong advocate for reproductive rights leading New York and ensuring the state remains a safe haven for those seeking care.
39. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations?
No
40. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
The Hochul campaign takes contributions from a broad coalition of supporters, which reflects her administration’s commitment to move away from the divisive leadership of the past and mend bridges to govern more effectively for New Yorkers.
41. Will you commit to not hire any vendors or consultants who are complicit in union-busting?
The Governor has been steadfast in her support for labor and continues to build an organization that unequivocally supports unions and a workers’ right to organize.
41. Do you support the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)? Please explain.
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation.
42. Will you push for the passage of Home Stability Support (HSS) to bridge the difference between the public assistance shelter allowance and fair market rents for NY's 95,000 homeless? Do you support S.856 / A.6032, which amends the Social Services Law to create a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefits and who face eviction, homelessness, or loss of housing due to domestic violence or hazardous living conditions?
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation but continues to support a comprehensive approach to combat homelessness and expandaffordable housing options.
43. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it?
Governor Hochul has previously proposed a replacement to 421-a that would be more affordable and spend taxpayer dollars more efficiently.
44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units?
Yes
45. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much?
Yes, Governor Hochul is committed to identifying and securing the necessary federal and state funding to support NYCHA.
46. Do you support the Climate and Community Investment Act? (S.4264A / A.6967)? Please explain.
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation at this time, but she has invested billions of dollars in clean energy infrastructure, climate resiliency, and preservation.
47. Do you support the New York Public Banking Act (S.1762A / A. 8290)? Please elaborate.
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation at this time, but she has taken action to expand access to low-cost bank accounts and made investments in other vital resources for lower income communities.
48. Do you support the New Deal for CUNY (S.4461 / A.5843)? Please elaborate.
Governor Hochul will not comment on pending legislation at this time, but she has invested billions of dollars in the CUNY system for operational support, debt relief services, additional faculty, academic improvements, increased enrollment, enhancements to student support services, and expanded childcare on campus.
48. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS, and was blatantly racist, would you support a city bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose?
Governor Hochul does not seek opportunities to rename bridges like some of her predecessors, though she would be supportive of the city’s efforts if a bill is introduced with community support.
50. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
While Governor Hochul believes New York’s rich Italian community should be recognized, it is important to also celebrate Indigenous peoples and their place in history while recognizing the scars left by their unjust treatment. In 2021, for the first time in state history, Governor Hochul signed a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and she will continue taking action to build foundations of trust across communities.
51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much?
No
52. Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools; b) Mental health response calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement.
Governor Hochul supports rethinking policies in some areas that prove counterproductive to public safety initiatives and weaken the effectiveness of mental health services.
53. Do you support New York City’s current initiatives to remove homeless New Yorkers from the subways and dismantle homeless encampments?
Governor Hochul is committed to providing resources to the housing insecure and homeless communities across the state.
53. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated?
Governor Hochul believes this should be determined in partnership with community leaders and law enforcement.
54. How would you recommend law enforcement officers be penalized for refusing to wear masks in public while on duty, in defiance of city and state rules?
Governor Hochul urges every New Yorker to follow recommended public health guidance.
55. Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
Governor Hochul will continue to assess every bill that crosses her desk with the fundamental question: is this good for all New Yorkers?
56. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State?
Governor Hochul has made investments in and streamlined resources to businesses hit the hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic and is taking the steps to ensure that New York’s economy rebounds after two years of hardship. She will also continue to show up and support New York artists, entertainment, cultural institutions, and nightlife first hand throughout her tenure as Governor.
57. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs is promoting the idea of creating a third party so that if a progressive candidate wins the primary race there would be a chance to defeat them in the general election. Do you oppose this effort?
Governor Hochul will not be running or supporting a third party at this time but has also indicated she would welcome the line from the Working Families Party.
58. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs uses his title and organization to bash and demagogue against progressive Democrats to the point that he is now supporting a candidate who claims commemorating a Klan leader “has nothing to do with race.” If elected do you commit to removing him as chair of our state party?
59. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address legislatively?
? Public safety
? Affordability
? Education
60. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account?
As of January 2022, our campaign had $21 million cash on hand.
61. What additional information would you like members The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision concerning your candidacy?
I look forward to a continued partnership with your members as we take on Republicans in November – we must be victorious and protect Democratic seats in the Legislature and Congress. I will be the party leader to do just that.
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