Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Feb. 4, 2026 that she has chosen Adrienne Adams, the former New York City Council speaker, as her nominee for lieutenant governor on her re-election ticket. The selection pairs two women from the Democratic Party’s moderate wing and produces the first all-woman major-party ticket in New York State history. Adams, 65, who served two terms representing parts of Queens and was the first Black Council speaker, ran in last year’s mayoral primary but finished with a weak showing. The pick is intended to add geographic balance and sharpen the campaign’s message on public safety, costs and support for working families.
Key Takeaways
- Announcement date: Feb. 4, 2026; Gov. Kathy Hochul, 67, named Adrienne Adams, 65, as her running mate for lieutenant governor.
- Historic ticket: This is the first major-party, all-woman gubernatorial ticket in New York State history.
- Adams background: Two-term New York City Council member, first Black Council speaker, former mayoral primary candidate in 2025 with a poor finish.
- Political alignment: Both Hochul and Adams are identified with the Democratic Party’s moderate wing and have resisted some proposals from the party’s left on taxes and policing.
- Electoral calculus: The choice aims to strengthen Hochul’s appeal in New York City—particularly Queens—and present a united message on public safety and cost-of-living issues.
- Opposition context: Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman and nationalized attacks by former President Donald Trump are part of the broader campaign backdrop.
Background
Kathy Hochul, the state’s incumbent governor, is seeking a full term through a re-election campaign that has drawn attention to ballot strategy and geographic reach. Hochul, 67 and a native of Buffalo, initially attracted notice for being the first woman to serve as governor of New York State. As the campaign moves forward, choices about a running mate are being read as signals about policy priorities and voter outreach.
Adrienne Adams rose through New York City politics to become the first Black speaker of the City Council and completed two terms representing parts of Queens. Her 2025 run in the mayoral primary did not gain traction, leaving questions about her immediate political trajectory. Choosing Adams connects the statewide ticket to New York City voters and highlights experience in municipal governance and coalition building.
Within the Democratic Party, tensions remain between moderates and progressives over issues such as tax policy and policing reforms. Both Hochul and Adams have been described as moderates who have resisted some proposals from the party’s left, a positioning that shapes how the ticket’s messaging will be framed to suburban and urban voters alike.
Main Event
On Feb. 4, 2026, Hochul publicly announced Adams as her lieutenant governor nominee, portraying the pick as a strategic and historic move. Campaign statements emphasized Adams’s record in city government and her ability to connect with families and communities across Queens. The governor framed the choice as strengthening the campaign’s capability to deliver on public safety and economic concerns.
Adams’s recent record includes leadership as Council speaker and two completed terms representing Queens neighborhoods; those credentials were highlighted by Hochul’s team as proof of practical experience. Adams’s 2025 mayoral bid, however, finished far behind leading candidates, which critics say makes this selection a political gamble to rehabilitate her profile.
The announcement also carried symbolic weight: pairing two female leaders on a major-party ticket in New York for the first time. Both women’s records include moments of high-profile opposition to national figures and policies, a contrast the campaign is using to nationalize the race against Republican opponents and outside critics.
Analysis & Implications
Strategically, the addition of Adams offers Hochul immediate gains in narrative and geography. Queens is a densely populated, diverse borough whose turnout can be decisive in statewide contests; Adams’s local ties could help shore up votes in parts of the city where the governor needs to maintain or rebuild support. The campaign’s emphasis on public safety and lowering costs aims to appeal to moderate and swing voters in suburban and urban districts.
Politically, the ticket crystallizes a moderate Democratic stance at a moment when the party remains divided over policy direction. By selecting a lieutenant governor nominee who shares her approach, Hochul reduces the likelihood of a prominent intra-party critic on the ticket, but she risks alienating progressive activists who favor bolder reforms on taxation and policing.
For the general election, the move allows Republicans to frame the race as a contest between New York incumbency and national conservative critiques; Hochul’s campaign has already cast the Republican opponent, Bruce Blakeman, as aligned with former President Donald Trump’s attacks on the state. How effectively the ticket translates Adams’s municipal record into statewide appeal will be tested in the months ahead in fund-raising, advertising and grassroots organizing.
Longer term, if Hochul wins re-election with Adams on the ticket, it would set a precedent for future picks and could accelerate efforts to recruit more women of diverse backgrounds to statewide slates. Conversely, if the ticket underperforms, critics may argue the selection failed to deliver the intended citywide traction and energized opposition forces.
Comparison & Data
| Candidate | Age | Political Background | Notable Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathy Hochul | 67 | Incumbent governor, moderate Democrat | First woman to serve as New York governor |
| Adrienne Adams | 65 | Two-term NYC Council member, former Council speaker | First Black speaker of the New York City Council |
The table highlights the immediate contrasts and complementarities between Hochul and Adams: age parity, distinct bases of political experience (statewide executive incumbency vs. municipal leadership), and historic firsts that the campaign is emphasizing. Those elements frame both storytelling and tactical outreach in this election cycle.
Reactions & Quotes
Hochul framed the pick as both practical and combative against outside criticism. The campaign used direct language to position Adams as a partner in a statewide fight over policy and political direction.
“Adrienne Adams is that fighter,”
Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York (campaign statement)
That line appeared within a broader statement in which Hochul criticized what she described as relentless attacks from national figures and framed the selection as a defense of New York families. The statement also underscored policy priorities such as public safety and cost reduction.
“Adrienne and I are no strangers to rolling up our sleeves and getting results for working New Yorkers,”
Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York (campaign statement)
Those remarks were presented as intent to emphasize governance experience rather than ideological positioning, and they were included to signal a pragmatic approach to voter concerns ahead of the general election.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Adams’s presence on the ticket will materially increase turnout in Queens in a way that changes statewide margins remains unproven and will only be known after early voting and Election Day results.
- Internal Democratic reactions—especially among progressive organizers—are still being assessed and may influence volunteer mobilization and small-dollar fundraising.
- Any formal policy concessions to appease the party’s left or to consolidate the moderate base have not been announced and remain speculative.
Bottom Line
Kathy Hochul’s selection of Adrienne Adams for lieutenant governor is both symbolic and tactical: it creates a historic all-woman major-party ticket in New York and seeks to add city-based reach and municipal governing credentials to a statewide re-election bid. The pick emphasizes a moderate, results-oriented message focused on public safety and cost pressures for families.
The decision carries upside and risks. It can help solidify support among certain urban and moderate constituencies and provide a clear contrast with the Republican opponent. At the same time, the ticket must bridge intra-party divisions and translate municipal recognition into measurable electoral gains if it is to secure a successful re-election outcome. Observers should watch turnout patterns in Queens, early polling shifts, and fund-raising signals in the coming weeks.