Kathmandu, Aug 11. Kathy Hochul, a western New York Democrat is the first woman to step in as a governor in New York. She is set to come into power after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would resign from office.

Cuomo has said he will stay on and work to ease her into the job, which he managed to dominate over three terms.

Hochul held her first news conference on Wednesday at the same room where Cuomo used to come for the televised briefings related to the coronavirus pandemic. She revealed in a statement that she was “prepared to lead”.

Cuomo resigned following allegations of sexual harassment on 11 women. Although he has denied touching anyone inappropriately, he said that it is better to step down rather than face an impeachment.

He also said that with the state still in a pandemic crisis, it was best for him to step aside so the state’s leaders could “get back to governing.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, another upstate political veteran, told reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, “Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will be an extraordinary governor. She understands the complexities and needs of our state, having been both a congresswoman and having been lieutenant governor for the last several years.”

It is said that in addition to examining his conduct with women, lawyers hired by the state Assembly has been investigating whether the administration has manipulated data relating on the COVID-19 pandemic.