New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Gives Victory Speech After Projected Win Transcript

We’re actually going to take you now to Chinatown where Governor Hochul is about to speak. The projected winner of tonight’s race, she makes history as the first woman elected as Governor of New York State.

Thank you, thank you New York.

(00:16)
Thank you.

(00:16)
Thank you. Thank you everyone. Thank you. It’s extraordinary. Thank you, Thank you.

(00:27)
Thank you to everyone in this room and across the state who made this night possible. First of all, my running mate, our great Lieutenant Governor, Antonio Delgado, he’s incredible. And our State Party Chairman Jay Jacobs, for all he’s done for us. And also my running mates on the ticket this year. Our Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer. Attorney General Tish James, you heard from her. Controller, Tom DiNapoli. Our entire congressional delegation. And Speaker Carl Hastie and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, thank them, thank them so much.

(01:19)
I also have an incredible, extraordinary team of public servants who are working with me, led by Karen Persichilli Keogh and Stacy Lynch, thank them. My campaign team, they’re incredible led by Brian Lensmire, Adam Sullivan, and thousands of people across the state who knocked on doors and made the calls. And let me give a little special shout out to Organized Labor for all you did for me. Thank you for bringing it home. Labor, you helped us bring it home. But to all of you, I also have to acknowledge the people who’ve been through so much. And that’s my family.

(02:03)
First of all, New York’s first, elected first gentleman of the state. My husband, Bill Hochul. His love for 38 years has lifted me up and I’m so grateful to him and our children Will and Katie and their spouses, Christine and Matt. They’ve endured years and years of my absences with understanding and love. To my father and my late mother who inspired me to go on a path of public service. And to my siblings, my five siblings, and particularly my only sister Sheila, who in a special way… Sheila has that special way of keeping me humble. I want to thank all of them. But tonight I want to speak directly to New Yorkers. Tonight you made your voices heard loud and clear. And you made me the first woman ever elected to be the Governor of the State of New York.

(03:10)
But, I’m not here to make history. I’m here to make a difference. And because of all of you, we’ll keep making progress, breaking down barriers, breaking glass ceilings, helping New Yorkers achieve the greatness that it is capable of. And I will lead with strength and compassion, not with fear and anger. And together we’ll put our values to work to lift up all and leave no one behind. We’ll build a state where families can afford to raise their children. We’ll create good paying jobs from Long Island to the City, the Hudson Valley, the North Country, all the way to Buffalo and the Southern Tier. We’ll do all that, creating good paying jobs. But also give everyone what they deserve, safe, affordable housing because that’s one of their rights. And to make sure that all of our kids will succeed in school and achieve their full potential, and live in communities without fear. To have the safety to walk through streets and take our subways without illegal guns on our streets.

(04:40)
And This will become a place, this is a place where fundamental rights are protected and women can make their own decisions about their bodies. Because this is New York. New Yorkers, I will never take for granted the trust you’ve placed in me. And I’ll tell you this, the road here from Buffalo was not always easy. Lets hear it Buffalo.

(05:13)
My parents started out married life in a trailer park, but they rose up through hard work and education and lifted themselves out of their circumstances. And they raised me in a strong, social justice, Catholic family where I was taught to fight for others. And it sparked my passion for public service. And that’s why as a young mom, I ran for office. Eventually being elected to every single level there is local, county, state, federal. And now I’ve had the honor of a lifetime, becoming the first woman to lead this state. And I have felt… Thank you. I have felt the weight on my shoulders to make sure that every little girl and all the women of the state who’ve had to bang up against glass ceilings everywhere they turned, to know that a woman could be elected in her own right and successfully govern a state as rough and tumble as New York. And yes, the glass ceiling, like the one that’s above us here today, has finally been shattered in the state of New York. And you made it happen.

(06:38)
In closing, because I know it’s been a long night. I feel the energy. I feel the love. But I know you all want to go out and celebrate as well. We’ll get there. But it’s in closing.

Come on Kathy, lets get to it.

The lessons of tonight’s victory are that given the choice, New Yorkers refuse to go backwards on our long march toward progress. And we embrace the torch that’s been passed to us from all those who fought the good fight years before we came here. And in so doing, we commit that we’ll make that torch glow even brighter before we pass it on to the next generation. We’ve achieved so much in just one year. I might ask all of New Yorkers to join me as we act with boldness and urgency and accomplish even more for the next four years. And I believe with every fiber in my body that our best days do lie ahead, that we’ll capture the essence of New York exceptionalism and continue to work hard to better the lives of all. Tonight, you put your faith in me and I will never let you down. Never let you down New York. Thank you for your love and your support, together we’re moving upward, onward and upward. And may God bless all of you, the greatest day of New York and United States of America. Thank you New York, I love you.

All right. There it is Dave, the first woman ever to be elected Governor in New York. She said though, she’s not here to make history saying, “I’m here to make a difference. To lead with strength and compassion.” And what a race it’s been.

Yeah, Lee Zeldin had tried to push crime, just could not make the inroads he needed in New York City, always a hurdle for Republicans seeking statewide office. Governor Hochul, holding on and making history tonight.