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ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul says she isn’t going anywhere.
The first-term governor denied a report Thursday that she’s interested in leaving her job as the state’s chief executive for a position within the administration of Vice President Kamala Harris — if Harris defeats Donald J. Trump in next month’s presidential election.
It’s not the first time Hochul has been asked if she’s interested in departing Albany for Washington, D.C., but she didn’t hesitate to dispute those rumors on Thursday.
“I love New York. I’m not leaving New York. All that is false,” Hochul said. “There are bad actors out there, once again, purveying lies.”
The rumor was reported by NOTUS, a nonprofit news outlet in Washington, D.C. The digital publication reported that “Hochul’s aides have reached out to express her interest in a potential position.”
“Categorically false,” Hochul said. “People are trying to create the notion I’m not running for reelection, and I’m running for reelection.”
Hochul has become a surrogate for the Harris campaign since the presidential hopeful became their party’s nominee. She stumped for the ticket earlier this month in Pennsylvania, a key swing state.
Harris came to New York two years ago to rally for Hochul in the final days of her campaign for a full term as governor.
“The thing about Kathy Hochul is she has shown you who she is,” Harris said. “And I believe when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.”
Hochul ended up winning that election by a close margin of seven points over her Republican opponent, former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin.
But over the past year, Hochul has thrust herself onto the national political scene. She spoke briefly at the Democratic National Convention in support of Harris. She’s also taken trips overseas this year to speak about New York’s energy goals and economy at the Vatican, in Italy and in Ireland.
Hochul was also a top surrogate for President Joseph R. Biden when he was pursuing reelection. She was among the loudest voices that rejected calls for him to step down as their party’s nominee — and one of several governors who visited him at the White House not long before he dropped out of the race.
“President Joe Biden is in it to win it and all of us said we pledged our support to him,” Hochul said after the meeting between the president and a group of governors in early July.
Biden dropped out about three weeks later. Hochul has been a strong supporter of Harris since, often touching on how both served in the second-highest position in their respective governments before pursuing the top office.
“I am confident she will deliver for New Yorkers and am proud to stand beside her,” Hochul said in late July.
