JIMMIE JOHNSON: THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS STEPPED IN FOR A DISGRACED POLITICIAN.

GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL IS JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.

HOCHUL, SIXTY-TWO, SERVED AS NEW YORK’S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR UNDER NOW-DISGRACED FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO.

CUOMO RESIGNED AFTER AN ATTORNEY GENERAL INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED HE BROKE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS BY SEXUALLY HARASSING ELEVEN WOMEN WHO WORKED FOR HIM.

HIS EXIT FROM THE POLITICAL STAGE, MADE HOCHUL, THE STATE’S FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR.

FOLLOWING CUOMO’S SCANDAL, HOCHUL QUICKLY PIVOTED TO EMBRACE THE POLITICAL SPOTLIGHT AND DISTANCED HERSELF FROM THE FORMER GOVERNOR.

HOCHUL: “I THINK IT’S VERY CLEAR, THE GOVERNOR AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CLOSE, PHYSICALLY OR OTHERWISE, IN TERMS OF MUCH TIME. AT THE END OF MY TERM, NO ONE WILL EVER DESCRIBE MY ADMINISTRATION AS A TOXIC WORK ENVIRONMENT.”

JIMMIE: HOW WILL SHE GOVERN? HOCHUL SAYS HER AGENDA WILL FOCUS ON COVID PREVENTION AND RECOVERY.

SHE’S ALREADY EXPRESSED HER SUPPORT OF MASK-WEARING IN SCHOOL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, SHE WANTS TO HELP REBUILD THE STATE’S ECONOMY, IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND PROTECT PEOPLE WHO FELL BEHIND ON RENT OR THEIR MORTGAGE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SHE HAS STEPPED INTO A POLITICAL SEAT ONCE BEFORE.

SHE SERVED IN CONGRESS FROM 2011-2013, AFTER A DISGRACED CONGRESSMAN STEPPED DOWN. HE REPORTEDLY SENT A SHIRTLESS PHOTO TO A WOMAN SEEKING A “FINANCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY SECURE” MAN ON CRAIGSLIST.

ONCE AGAIN, HOCHUL IS FACED WITH REBUILDING CONSTITUENTS TRUST IN GOVERNMENT LEADERS, THIS TIME IN THE MOST POWERFUL SEAT IN NEW YORK. A SEAT SHE PLANS ON WINNING HERSELF IN 2022.

HOCHUL: “I’M THE MOST PREPARED PERSON TO ASSUME THIS RESPONSIBILITY AND I’M GOING TO ASK THE VOTERS AT SOME POINT FOR THEIR FAITH IN ME AGAIN. BUT RIGHT NOW I NEED THEIR FAITH, I NEED THEIR PRAYERS AND I NEED THEIR SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS RIGHT.”

JIMMIE: SO, THAT’S KATHY HOCHUL. JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY.