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John —

This week, I was proud to take the oath of office to serve as the first woman elected to a full term as governor of New York State.  

When George Clinton — New York’s first governor — took that oath two and a half centuries ago, no one could have dreamed of the day a woman would lead this great state.  

So yes, this week’s inauguration was historic. But I’m not serving as governor to make history. I’m doing it to make a difference.  

As your governor, I will keep fighting for you every single day. 

I’m fighting to make our state safer — because every New Yorkers should be able to walk our streets, ride our subways, and go to school free from fear.  

I’m fighting to make our state more affordable — because our grandkids should be able to afford to grow up in the same community that they were raised in.  

I’m fighting to create opportunities for New Yorkers today — and to invest in a tomorrow so our young people can have a better life.  

New Yorkers are tough. We’re undeterred. We’re unafraid. We're also innovators and creators. We’re optimists and realists, dreamers and doers. But above all, when we’re united, there's no stopping us. And there is no fight for what is right that we will ever back down from.

We are home to one of the most diverse populations in the country — people of every color, creed, national origin and orientation call New York home. I'm here to fight for everyone, no matter where they came from or how they got here.

We'll create economic empowerment, so communities of color are no longer left behind and marginalized. We'll make sure that our kids can thrive and have a first-rate education, so their future has unlimited possibilities. And we’ll make it our sole mission to lift up every New Yorker, make a difference in their lives, and build a more equitable state so their tomorrows will be better than their yesterdays.

Over the next four years, we're going to keep opening doors to help more New Yorkers get ahead.

I believe there is nothing we can’t achieve when we are united. Let’s get to work — together.

Ever Upward,

Gov. Kathy Hochul