Kathy Hochul’s Personal Life, Siblings, Parents, Husband, Boyfriend, Kids, Other Family and Dating History
Siblings
- Kathy Hochul is the second of six children.
Parents
- Father: John P. “Jack” Courtney, who worked at a steel plant and later became president of an IT company.
- Mother: Patricia Ann “Pat” (Rochford) Courtney, a homemaker who later ran her own business.
Husband
- Husband: William J. Hochul Jr., a former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York and current General Counsel at Delaware North. They married in 1984.
Boyfriend
- There is no public information available about Kathy Hochul’s dating history prior to her marriage to William J. Hochul Jr.
Kids
- Kathy and William Hochul Jr. have two adult children:
- Caitlin Hochul
- William Hochul III
Other Family
- There isn’t much public information available about other family members beyond her immediate family.
Dating History
- Kathy Hochul’s dating history prior to her marriage is not publicly documented.
Personal Life
Kathy Hochul was born Kathleen Courtney on August 27, 1958, in Buffalo, New York. She grew up in a large Irish Catholic family, the second of six children. Her parents, John P. Courtney and Patricia Ann Courtney, were deeply involved in their community. Her father worked as a steelworker before becoming a clerical worker, and her mother was a strong advocate for social justice.
Hochul attended Syracuse University, where she also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1980. She later received her Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C., in 1984.
Early Career
After law school, Hochul began her career working as a legal counsel and legislative assistant to U.S. Representative John LaFalce and later to U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan. She also worked as a government relations specialist with the M&T Bank in Buffalo.
Political Career
Hochul’s political career began at the local level:
- Town Board Member of Hamburg, New York (1994-2007): She served on the town board for over a decade, focusing on economic development and community issues.
- Also Erie County Clerk (2007-2011): Hochul was appointed to this position and later elected to a full term. She gained national attention for her opposition to then-Governor Eliot Spitzer’s plan to issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.
U.S. Congress
In 2011, Hochul won a special election to represent New York’s 26th Congressional District, also becoming the first Democrat to hold the seat in 40 years. During her time in Congress, she focused on issues such as job creation, veterans’ affairs, and healthcare.
Lieutenant Governor of New York
In 2014, Hochul was selected as Andrew Cuomo’s running mate and was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York. She served from 2015 to 2021, during which she chaired the Regional Economic Development Councils and the Women’s Suffrage Commission.
Governor of New York
Following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation in August 2021, Kathy Hochul was sworn in as the 57th Governor of New York, becoming the first woman to hold the office. As governor, she has focused on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, improving public health infrastructure, and also promoting economic recovery. Hochul has also prioritized issues such as climate change, housing, and social justice.
