Kathy Hochul, New York Lieutenant Governor, speaks at a news conference in Albany, New York on August 11, 2021, after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he would not be returning to the New York State Capitol.New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she will run for governor in 2022 after she has completed her term as Governor. Andrew Cuomo is out of office."I fully anticipate to. Hochul stated that she has prepared for the possibility when asked by NBC's Today whether she would run."They'll see that my fights are relentless every day. I am confident of that," Hochul said. Hochul stated in an interview that this is how I am hardwired. Hochul added that he was looking forward to the challenge and would not let New Yorkers down.Cuomo will be succeeded by Hochul in less than two weeks. He will also complete the final 15 months of his term. After a shocking report by the New York State Attorney general, Hochul announced his resignation. It found that he had sexually harassed at most 11 women and created a hostile work environment in his office.Hochul stated Wednesday that she is available to assume the helm and promised not to create the "toxic" environment her predecessor had during his three terms. Hochul also stated that she would fire any Cuomo officials or staff implicated in this report.Hochul stated Wednesday that "no one named in the report as doing anything unethical will remain in my Administration." "There will always be turnover."According to state campaign finance records, Hochul has amassed roughly $1.7 million in war funds as lieutenant governor. Hochul already has a diverse group of wealthy donors, including from the real estate, labor, and health care industries.According to state campaign finance records, William Rudin, Rudin Management's CEO, donated $18,000 to Hochul’s lieutenant governor election campaign in July.Hochul's impressive campaign funding indicates that he has an advantage going into 2022.Letitia James, the State Attorney General and who led the long-running investigation into Cuomo, is another potential Democratic candidate. Although she is believed to have ambitions for higher office and has not yet stated whether she will run,Cuomo could run again for governor if he is not impeached or convicted by the state legislature, even though he will be stepping down in the next two weeks. At the close of the first half, Cuomo had $18 million in his bank account.According to key Democratic Party sources, Alessandra Biaggi, a New York state senator, is considering running for governor next. According to key Democratic Party sources, the Democrat was one the many critics of Cuomo’s workplace environment and called for the governor's resignation.Biaggi, however, isn't a household name as other candidates and only $185,000 of campaign funds according to New York State campaign finance records. This makes her chances of winning the election highly unlikely.According to Wall Street Journal, several Republican candidates have announced plans to run next year for governor, including U.S. Rep. Lee Zedlin, and Westchester County executive Rob Astoriiano. Andrew Giuliani is a former Trump aide and the son Rudy Giuliani.This report was contributed by Brian Schwartz, CNBC.
