FULL: Gov. Kathy Hochul victory speech

Thank you, New York, and thank you, New York Democrats. Congrats. This looks like a party. You having fun out there? This looks like the Democratic Party. First of all, to my incredible, incredible husband, Bill. Let's give it up for Bill. Listen, listen. This man has been through 16 elections with me. The guy's a saint, okay? But his unconditional love. I want to thank all of you who have been there for me, to my family, to my friends, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my family, to my Amazing running mate, Adrienne Adams and her beautiful family. Thank you for being part of this journey. I look forward to many, many years ahead, making a real difference for New Yorkers. And to the best campaign team in the country, led by Preston Elliott, our incredible volunteers, the men and women of labor who showed up for us, and every single person, every single person who knocked on doors and made phone calls, this victory belongs to all of you. In a special... A special thank you and congratulations to our unstoppable Attorney General, Tish James. Congratulations. Our hard-working, best-in-the-class of all controllers in the country, Tom DiNapoli. I'm so proud to be able to serve alongside of you again for the next four years. And my government team, led by Karen Persichilli Keough. I thank all of you, all of you, for working tirelessly to turn our bold ambitions into real results for New Yorkers, and the countless elected officials who've joined me on the campaign trail. I'm grateful for your friendship and support, and I want to say to Mayor Mondami, thank you for standing with me and bringing a whole new energy to New York City. Well, I know the votes are still being counted, but what we're seeing unfold across the whole It's incredibly exciting. We may be on the verge, and I'm feeling it, on the verge of making history in America with Brooklyn's own Akeem Jeffries becoming the first black speaker in the House of Representatives. How about that? And we're watching some really encouraging results in the Senate, too. At a night like this, I feel really good that my friend Chuck Schumer may soon have a Democratic majority alongside of him. How about that? This is how we take back our country. And congratulations to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. I could not ask for two better partners in Albany. I want to thank them and give them a special round of applause. But most of all, to you, the people of New York, thank you for once again putting your trust in me. Serving as your governor has It has been the privilege of my lifetime, and I will never, ever, ever. Take your faith in me for granted. Four years ago, we made history. I stood before you as the first woman ever elected governor in the state of New York. And now, for the first time, two women have been elected to lead. And Adrienne Adams will become the first black woman ever elected lieutenant governor. Just think about that. Think about that. A daughter of Buffalo. A daughter of Queens. Two women. From working-class families raised on opposite sides of the state, both so far from the halls of power, now entrusted with leading the greatest state in the nation. You know, tonight I also think about the generations of women who could only dream of this opportunity. Women who knocked on doors that wouldn't open, who fought for seats at tables where they weren't welcome. This night we stand on their shoulders and I hope I hope out there there's a little girl who's watching, that that could be me someday. Because we have broken down the barriers once and for all. I also want to acknowledge my opponent, Bruce Blakeman, who called, no, not here, not here, not here, who called to concede the election. I will always partner with him to deliver for the people of Nassau County. Whenever Nassau County needs its governor, I will be there because the people we serve deserve no less. Tonight, tonight, the people of New York have sent a message that will be heard far beyond our state lines. Remember this, just a few weeks ago, Donald Trump came to New York and told voters, no, listen, you can't make this up. Came to New York and told voters to pretend that he was on the ballot. Well, Mr. President, you got your wish, because New Yorkers remember a president who tried to overturn an election and undermine the will of the American people. A president who unleashed mass ICE agents in our communities, leaving hard-working, law-abiding families living in fear. A president who launched trade wars, driving up the cost for stressed out families. Well, here's my message to Donald Trump. If you want to bring good paying jobs to New York, lower costs for families, and make our communities safer, I will work with you. I don't care who gets the credit. I care about results. But, but, but, if your actions threaten our rights, or put New York families at risk, I will stand up to you and fight you every single time. Because no matter who occupies the White House, I know who I answer to. It's the people of New York. And that's how I approached this job from day one. When I became governor five years ago, New York was facing extraordinary challenges. Families were struggling to recover from the from the pandemic. Jobs and incomes were lost, communities were hurting. Crime was soaring, and the future of our city and our state was bleak. But even in our darkest days, I said, do not bet against New York ever. And we also knew that standing up to mega-Republicans was only part of the job. We had to deliver for New Yorkers and show Democrats, show everyone what Democrats actually stand for. So here we go. We got to work. Cutting taxes for middle-class families, putting New York on a path to universal childcare, bringing free meals into our schools and taking the cell phones out, making our streets and our subways safer, and providing free community college for adults. We've been bringing new jobs and opportunities to communities that have been overlooked. And we're holding the world's largest, most powerful AI companies accountable and having the nation's first moratorium on new hyperscale data centers. Together, New York Democrats are leading the way for a country that is hungry for progress. And we're giving people a reason to believe again. But my friends, do you think we're done? No. No, that is a hell no. Hell no. Because even as we celebrate tonight, even as we celebrate New York, too many New Yorkers are working harder than ever and not getting ahead. Because I know that winning an election doesn't make your rent cheaper or lower your grocery bill. It doesn't make finding affordable childcare any easier. But that's what the next four years are for, to finish what we started, with bold ambition and a sense of urgency. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Let me close with this. I think about my parents often and the sacrifices they made for six children growing up in that crowded house outside of Buffalo. If they could see me tonight, they'd be proud that they know I never forgot where I came from. They taught me that success is not measured by what you accomplish for yourself, but what you make possible for others. My parents live those words. They work hard to give their kids opportunities to succeed. And that's the promise that every generation of New Yorkers inherit from the one before. Now, my friends, it's our turn to pay it forward. With every fiber of my being, the full potential of New York has yet to be unlocked. And we are on the cusp of the American dream and the New York dream that is even sweeter than lifting everyone up. And I see that promise in the young people I meet across the state. From Brooklyn to Buffalo, from Syracuse to Sag Harbor, they're ready to make their mark on the world. But I hear their anxieties as well. The college graduate who worked hard for that degree, only to worry that AI could take the job that they spent years preparing for. Or the young couple wanting to be able to afford a new baby or grow up in the neighborhood where they grew up as well. As a mom and grandma, I know how much dreams matter. But don't give up on them. Don't give up on New York. Because I believe our best day is Governor. I'm here to make history. I'm here to make a difference. When the story of my time in office is written. I don't want it to be about me. I want it to be about us. I want it to be about the lives we changed together, the families we lifted up, and the doors we opened up for generations. We'll never know. Now I see a lot of fun out there. A lot of festivities, a lot of friendship. Tomorrow, this room will be empty. The victory party will be over. And all across New York, families will get their kids ready for school, head off to work, and get on with their lives. As for me, I too will get up and get right back to work. Because that's the promise I made when I became your governor, and that's the promise I'll keep for the next four years, that your family and your future are my fight. Together.