My Surprising Deep-Dive into Kathy Hochul (And What I Actually Admire About Her)

Kathy Hochul - I’ll be honest — I didn’t know much about Kathy Hochul until pretty recently. I’d heard her name float around in the news, especially after Cuomo stepped down, but that was it. No strong opinions, no hot takes. Just a vague, “Oh, she’s the governor of New York now.” But then I stumbled onto a speech she gave — I think it was at some economic development summit — and that kinda pulled me in.

First off, she talks like someone who actually grew up in upstate New York, not just someone who drops by during election season. There’s this raw, unfiltered way she describes things like job loss, housing struggles, and public transit. Like, she doesn’t gloss over stuff. And maybe it’s the teacher in me, but I respect leaders who aren’t afraid to say, “We’ve got problems, and we’re not going to fix them overnight.”

The more I dug into her background, the more I started to respect the grind. I had no clue she’d been a county clerk, or that she literally used to go from town to town listening to what regular folks wanted. Not some made-for-TV campaign trail story — she actually did it. Old-school politics. She didn’t rise fast, but she stayed the course.

But here’s the part that really stuck with me: her work on housing and infrastructure. I live in a place where both of those things are a disaster (don't get me started on potholes or the rent), so hearing a governor say she's prioritizing those issues — and not just in NYC, but across the whole state — made me take notice. And yeah, her 2023 housing compact ran into political headwinds, but honestly? At least she had a plan. Most folks in politics are just reacting. She tried to be proactive.

Not saying she’s perfect. She’s caught heat for the Buffalo Bills stadium deal — and I think some of that’s fair. Spending $850 million in public money on a football team feels... iffy, especially with so many other urgent needs. But again, politics is messy. No one’s winning every battle.

Anyway, Kathy Hochul kinda surprised me. She’s not flashy, and that’s maybe what I like about her. Steady, practical, a little awkward at times — but not fake. And in a time when everyone’s screaming for attention, that quiet, “get-it-done” vibe feels like a relief.

How Kathy Hochul’s Quiet Leadership Stands Out in a Loud Political World

One thing that really hit me the more I read about Kathy Hochul? She’s not trying to be a celebrity governor. And in the era of viral soundbites and political TikTok stars, that’s... kind of refreshing.

Let’s be real — Andrew Cuomo was everywhere. Press briefings, TV interviews, even a book deal while the pandemic was still raging. It was a lot. And while I know some folks loved that level of visibility, I personally started craving a leader who focused less on the spotlight and more on the work. That’s kind of what Hochul brought to the table when she stepped in.

She’s more bureaucrat than bomb-thrower. More spreadsheets than slogans.

I know that sounds boring — and sometimes it is. Like, I won’t lie: some of her press conferences feel like staff meetings. But the trade-off is that she actually comes prepared. During one housing policy Q&A, I remember thinking, “Wait, she knows the actual zoning laws?!” That shouldn’t be shocking, but sadly, it kinda is these days.

Also, she’s big on letting other people talk. I’ve watched a few of her events where local leaders get way more mic time than you'd expect. It's small, but it tells me she isn’t obsessed with controlling every narrative. That might sound insignificant, but trust me — as someone who's worked in education and watched too many egos derail group projects — humility is underrated in leadership.

That said, I don’t think her quieter approach has always worked in her favor. There’ve been times, especially during crises like the NYC flooding or the migrant housing debates, where people wanted stronger messaging. And yeah, she probably missed a few chances to really connect with the public emotionally. It’s something I hope she works on, honestly.

Still, I’d rather have a leader who’s competent and occasionally dull than one who’s charismatic but chaotic. Hochul might not trend on social media every week, but she seems to understand that governing isn’t about winning attention — it’s about showing up, knowing your stuff, and making decisions that (hopefully) help people in the long run.

I guess in a political world full of performers, it’s kinda nice to have someone who feels more like a manager than a rockstar.

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