The 2022 New York gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022 to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of New York.
In August 2021, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul ascended to the governorship after Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment. A Democrat, Hochul sought a full term as governor in 2022 and defeated Jumaane Williams and Tom Suozzi in the June 28, 2022 Democratic primary. Antonio Delgado—who had been appointed lieutenant governor by Hochul earlier in 2022 to fill a vacancy—defeated Ana Maria Archila and Diana Reyna in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.
Lee Zeldin ran as the Republican nominee, having defeated Rob Astorino, Andrew Giuliani, and Harry Wilson in the Republican primary. Zeldin selected Alison Esposito, an NYPD officer, as his running mate. Esposito won unopposed in the primary for lieutenant governor, becoming the first openly gay major party nominee for statewide office in New York. This election was the first New York gubernatorial election in over 80 years not to feature any third-party candidates, although the Working Families Party endorsed Hochul and the Conservative Party endorsed Zeldin.
On Election Day, Hochul won a full term in office defeating Zeldin by a margin of 53.1%–46.7% and becoming the first woman to be elected governor of New York. This was New York's closest gubernatorial election since 1994.
The 2022 New York gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022 to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of New York.
In August 2021, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul ascended to the governorship after Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment. A Democrat, Hochul sought a full term as governor in 2022 and defeated Jumaane Williams and Tom Suozzi in the June 28, 2022 Democratic primary. Antonio Delgado—who had been appointed lieutenant governor by Hochul earlier in 2022 to fill a vacancy—defeated Ana Maria Archila and Diana Reyna in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor.
Lee Zeldin ran as the Republican nominee, having defeated Rob Astorino, Andrew Giuliani, and Harry Wilson in the Republican primary. Zeldin selected Alison Esposito, an NYPD officer, as his running mate. Esposito won unopposed in the primary for lieutenant governor, becoming the first openly gay major party nominee for statewide office in New York. This election was the first New York gubernatorial election in over 80 years not to feature any third-party candidates, although the Working Families Party endorsed Hochul and the Conservative Party endorsed Zeldin.
On Election Day, Hochul won a full term in office defeating Zeldin by a margin of 53.1%–46.7% and becoming the first woman to be elected governor of New York. This was New York's closest gubernatorial election since 1994.
Democratic primary
In August 2021, after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation, then-Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she would run for governor in 2022. Hochul was sworn in as governor of New York on August 24, 2021. Hochul was elected to the position of lieutenant governor in 2014, and was re-elected in 2018; in both elections, she was Cuomo's running mate.
New York Attorney General Letitia James garnered attention for releasing a report on her office's investigation into alleged sexual harassment by Cuomo; the release of this report helped lead to Cuomo's resignation in August 2021. James announced her gubernatorial campaign in October 2021 and was considered a formidable challenger to Hochul.
On November 12, 2021, Newsday reported that Hochul had raised $10 million in campaign donations since taking office as governor. On November 16, 2021, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, described by CNN as "a progressive favorite from Brooklyn", announced his 2022 gubernatorial bid. Williams had run for lieutenant governor against Hochul in 2018, losing a close race. On November 29, 2021, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi of Long Island announced that he was running for governor. According to The New York Times, Suozzi was known as a "vocal centrist" and announced an intent to bill himself as a "'common-sense Democrat'". Suozzi was considered to have the potential to siphon votes away from Hochul.
In early December, James withdrew her gubernatorial candidacy and chose to seek re-election as attorney general instead. James' withdrawal from the race was seen as a positive development for Hochul, as James had been considered the second-strongest candidate in the race. The exit of James boosted the campaign of Williams, who became the only major candidate from New York City and the clear choice for the left wing of the Democratic Party.
On February 17, 2022, at the New York State Democratic Convention, Hochul was selected as the preferred Democratic candidate for governor of New York in 2022. At the convention, Hochul received 85.6% of the weighted vote, while Williams received 12.5%. Neither Williams nor Suozzi received sufficient support to obtain automatic ballot access and force a primary election; however, both candidates later gathered sufficient signatures to qualify for the Democratic primary ballot.
On June 28, 2022, Hochul won the Democratic gubernatorial primary with 67.6% of the vote, defeating Williams (19.4%) and Suozzi (13.0%).
Governor
Candidates
Kathy Hochul, incumbent governor of New York (2021–present) (running with Antonio Delgado)
Tom Suozzi, U.S. representative for New York's 3rd congressional district (2017–2023) and candidate in 2006 (running with Diana Reyna)
Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate (2019–present); candidate for lieutenant governor in 2018 (running with Ana María Archila)
Paul Nichols, lawyer and legislative staffer (running with David Englert)
Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York (2011–2021)
Letitia James, Attorney General of New York (2019–present) (running for re-election)
Charles Barron, New York City Councilmember from the 42nd district (2002–2013, 2021–present); state assembly member from the 60th District (2015–present)
Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City (2014–2021); candidate for president of the United States in 2020
Thomas DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller (2007–present) (running for re-election)
Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. senator from New York (2009–present); candidate for president of the United States in 2020 (endorsed Hochul)
Svante Myrick, mayor of Ithaca (2012–2022)
Cynthia Nixon, actress, activist and candidate for governor of New York in 2018
Christine Quinn, Speaker of the New York City Council (2006–2013)
Jessica Ramos, state senator from the 13th district (2019–present)
Kathleen Rice, U.S. representative for NY-04 (2015–present) (endorsed Hochul)
Al Sharpton, civil rights activist
Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Majority Leader of the New York State Senate (2019–present); state senator from the 35th district (2007–present) (endorsed Hochul)(running for reelection)
Endorsements
Kathy Hochul
Hillary Clinton, former First Lady of the United States (1993–2001), former U.S. senator from New York (2001–2009), U.S. Secretary of State (2009–2013), Democratic nominee for president of the United States in 2016
Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. senator from New York (2009–present), candidate for president of the United States in 2020
Tim Bishop, U.S. representative from NY-01 (2003–2015)
Brian Higgins, U.S. representative from NY-26 (2013–present) and NY-27 (2005–2013)
Steve Israel, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (2011–2015), U.S. representative from NY-03 (2013–2017) and NY-02 (2001–2013)
Hakeem Jeffries, chair of the House Democratic Caucus (2019–present), U.S. representative from NY-08 (2013–present)
Nita Lowey, U.S. representative from NY-17 (1989–1993, 2013–2021) and NY-18 (1993–2013)
Carolyn Maloney, U.S. representative from NY-12 (2013–2023) and NY-14 (1993–2013)
Sean Patrick Maloney, chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (2021–2023), U.S. representative from NY-18 (2013–2023)
Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (2021–present), chair of the Queens Democratic Party (2019–present), U.S. representative from NY-05 (2013–present) and NY-06 (1998–2013), former state assemblymember from the 31st district (1993–1998)
Grace Meng, U.S. representative from NY-06 (2013–present)
Charles Rangel, U.S. representative from NY-13 (2013–2017), NY-15 (1993–2013), NY-16 (1983–1993), and NY-19 (1971–1983)
Kathleen Rice, U.S. representative from NY-04 (2015–present)
Paul Tonko, U.S. representative from NY-20 (2013–present) and NY-21 (2009–2013),
Nydia Velázquez, chair of the House Small Business Committee (2019–present, 2007–2011), U.S. representative from the 7th district (2013–present), former U.S. representative from the 12th district (1993–2013), former New York City Councilmember from the 27th district (1984–1985)
Brian Benjamin, former lieutenant governor of New York (2021–2022), state senator from the 30th district (2017–2021)
Antonio Delgado, lieutenant governor (2022–present), former U.S. representative from New York's 19th congressional district (2019–2022)
Ned Lamont, governor of Connecticut (2019–present)
Phil Murphy, governor of New Jersey (2018–present)
Tom Wolf, governor of Pennsylvania (2015–2023)
Jamaal Bailey, state senator from the 36th district (2017–present)
Neil Breslin, state senator from the 44th district (2013–present), the 46th district (2002–2013), and the 42nd district (1997–2002)
John Brooks, state senator from the 8th district (2017–present)
Jeremy Cooney, state senator from the 56th district (2021–present)
Jim Gaughran, state senator from the 5th district (2019–present)
Andrew Gounardes, state senator from the 22nd district (2019–present)
Peter Harckham, state senator from the 40th district (2019–present)
Michelle Hinchey, state senator from the 46th district (2021–present)
Brad Hoylman, state senator from the 27th district (2013–present)
Todd Kaminsky, state senator from the 9th district (2016–2022) and the 20th district (2015–2016)
Anna Kaplan, state senator from the 7th district (2019–present)
Brian Kavanagh, state senator from the 26th district (2017–present)
Tim Kennedy, state senator from the 63rd district (2013–2024), former state senator from the 58th district (2011–2013)
Liz Krueger, state senator from the 28th district (2013–present) and the 26th district (2002–2012)
John Mannion, state senator from the 50th district (2020–2024)
Rachel May, state senator from the 53rd district (2019–present)
Shelley Mayer, state senator from the 37th district (2018–present)
Roxanne Persaud, state senator from the 19th district (2015–present)
Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, state senator from the 38th district (2021–present)
Sean Ryan, state senator from the 60th district (2021–present), former state assemblymember from the 149th district (2011–2021)
Diane Savino, state senator from the 23rd district (2005–present)
José M. Serrano, state senator from the 29th district (2013–present), former state senator from the 28th district (2005–2012), former New York City Councilmember from the 38th district (2002–2005)
James Skoufis, state senator from the 39th district (2019–present) (previously endorsed James)
Kevin Thomas, state senator from the 6th district (2019–present)