Kathy Hochul becomes first female governor of New York

New York chiefjJudge Janet DiFiore, left, swears in Kathy Hochul, right, as the first woman to be New York’s governor (Hans Pennink/AP)

Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York at the stroke of midnight, taking control of a state government desperate to get back to business after months of distractions over sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo.

The Democrat from western New York was sworn in as governor in a brief, private ceremony in the New York State Capitol overseen by the state’s chief judge, Janet DiFiore.