The 56th Governor of New York State
Andrew M. Cuomo
As Governor
Throughout his time as Governor, Andrew Cuomo has been working to make communities across the state stronger and safer for all New Yorkers. This includes restoring New York’s reputation as the progressive capital of the nation – with groundbreaking accomplishments like passing marriage equality, a $15 statewide minimum wage, and 12 weeks of paid family leave.
The Governor also worked to enact the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, implement comprehensive policies to combat sexual violence on college campuses, pass reforms to combat New York’s heroin and opioid epidemic, and set forth a plan to end the AIDS epidemic in New York State by 2020.
Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, state education aid has increased $6.1 billion or 31 percent over the last six years to its highest level ever - $24.8 billion. Major infrastructure projects such as the long-stalled Tappan Zee Bridge replacement and the much-needed redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport are moving forward, and the Governor’s administration has invested nearly $4 billion through the Regional Council and Upstate Revitalization initiatives to jumpstart the economy and support local priorities for development. Since the Governor took office, the unemployment rate has declined in every region of the state, and New York now has 7.9 million private sector jobs, more than at any point in state history.
Governor Cuomo has also restored fiscal discipline to state government – which has enabled major investments in New York’s future. Governor Cuomo closed a $10 billion deficit in his first budget, and state spending has grown by less than 2% each year since he took office. The state also enacted its first ever property tax cap to keep communities affordable for homeowners, renters and businesses, and every New Yorker now pays a lower tax rate than they did before the Governor took office.
Read op-ed's penned by Governor Cuomo.
Before becoming Governor
Prior to his election as Governor, Andrew Cuomo served four years as New York’s Attorney General. As the state’s top legal officer, he made restoring public trust in government and protecting New York taxpayers the top priorities of his administration.
As Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo brought national reform to the student loan industry, uncovered fraud within the largest health insurers in the country, protected investors from abuses on Wall Street, and made the Internet safer for children nationwide. In addition, his groundbreaking investigations into the state pension system set a model for public pension funds across the country.
Serving as Secretary of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development
In 1997, Cuomo was appointed by President Clinton to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Under his leadership, HUD was transformed from a wasteful and inefficient bureaucracy to an effective driver of economic development and housing opportunities.
As secretary, Cuomo made fighting racial discrimination a key focus and brought 2,000 anti-discrimination cases all across the country.
Andrew Cuomo’s work earned HUD the prestigious “Innovations in American Government Award” from the Ford Foundation and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University on three different occasions.
Early Career and Education
Cuomo first practiced law as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. He also briefly worked at a law firm before founding Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged (HELP) – a not-for-profit organization designed to combat homelessness in New York City. Cuomo later served as Chairman of Mayor David Dinkins’ New York City Homeless Commission.
Cuomo graduated from Fordham University in 1979 and Albany Law School in 1982.
Andrew Cuomo resides in Mount Kisco in Westchester County, and is the father of three daughters, twins Mariah and Cara, and Michaela.
Governor Cuomo calls on the federal government to close the Terror Gap by creating protocol that blocks gun sales to known or suspected terrorists on the U.S. Terror Watch List.
Governor Cuomo assists a stranded driver on the Cross Island Parkway on Long Island during the Blizzard of 2016.
Governor Cuomo traveled to Cuba as part of a Trade Mission where State industry leaders worked together with Cuban officials to discuss future economic opportunities.
Governor Cuomo meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Governor Cuomo, Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, and FEMA Administrator Fugate tour hurricane damage in Prattsville.
Governor Cuomo works with hundreds of volunteers to assist storm cleanup efforts through the "Labor For Your Neighbor" initiative.
Governor Cuomo stands on the floor of the NYS Senate Chamber right after the historic passage of the marriage equality act.
Governor Cuomo introduces the Women's Equality Act to end discrimination and inequality based on gender.
Governor Cuomo breaks ground on the planned Aloft Hotel in the Syracuse Inner Harbor.
Governor Cuomo delivers remarks at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
Governor Cuomo visits Boreas Ponds in the Adirondacks which is among 69,000 acres that were acquired by the state. 
