New York’s Kathy Hochul forms first women-led ticket, selecting Adrienne Adams as her running mate

2026-02-04 - 17:35

ALBANY, New York — Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has selected former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate for a women-led ticket — a first in Empire State history for a major party. Adams’ selection is simultaneously a bold and safe choice for the governor. Hochul and Adams are both moderate, church-going mothers who take a low-key approach to their jobs and are around the same age. Yet the governor, who holds a massive polling advantage over her political rivals, is making a statement by picking a woman to be her No. 2 in a state government that, until recently, has been male dominated. “Adrienne and I are no strangers to rolling up our sleeves and getting results for working New Yorkers,” Hochul said in a statement. “Together, we’re going to continue investing in public safety, bringing costs down, and making this state a place where all families can thrive.” Adams would be the first Black woman to hold the position and, as a Queens native, brings geographic balance to a ticket led by the state’s Buffalo-born governor. New York’s lieutenant governor is a largely powerless position and its officeholders usually do not garner much statewide recognition. Teasing her decision earlier this week, Hochul said she wanted someone who would be able to step into her job should the need arise. Hochul’s previous picks to fill