SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo took over the headlines on Tuesday with the announcement of his resignation from office. The announcement came following a report released by state Attorney General Letitia James concluded Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women as well as retaliating against his accusers.
For Syracuse University political science professor Grant Reeher, Cuomo’s resignation, while expected, is something that needed to be done sooner than later.
“There are some really big problems right now that need the full attention of Albany and certainly battling COVID is number one, two and three,” Reeher said.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Syracuse University alum, is set to replace Cuomo as governor in less than two weeks. She will become New York’s first female governor along with the first upstate-born governor in roughly 100 years. Though Reeher believes Hochul will be supported as governor, he sees her position as not set in stone yet.
“A lot of people and a lot of institutions I think are going to want her to succeed, but it’s also a time when there’s going to be jockeying for position, looking towards the next gubernatorial election,” Reeher explained.
Hochul said in her first press conference since Cuomo’s announcement that she hopes to make her return to the Syracuse area to attend this year’s New York State Fair.
