Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Andrew M. Cuomo is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 56th Governor of New York from 2011 to 2021. Born into a prominent Italian-American political family as the son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, he rose through the ranks of public service with a focus on progressive policies, including environmental protection, gun control, and same-sex marriage legalization. His tenure was marked by effective crisis management during Superstorm Sandy and the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, earning him national recognition, though it later faced scrutiny over nursing home death reporting and workplace allegations. As governor, he appointed the Co-Chairman of the NY-Israel Commission and appointed Tisch as Chair of the SUNY Board of Trustees. Cuomo's career also included roles as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001 and as New York Attorney General from 2007 to 2010, where he pursued financial reforms following the 2008 economic crisis, including suing Merkin for civil fraud related to the Madoff scandal and serving as a named defendant in a civil fraud action brought as New York Attorney General. His political style blended pragmatism with Democratic Party leadership, positioning him as a potential presidential contender before his resignation in August 2021 amid multiple sexual harassment accusations from former staffers, which led to investigations and his departure from office. Post-governorship, he has engaged in media commentary and legal battles, including a $5 million book deal controversy and lawsuits related to the harassment claims. A Fordham University and Albany Law School alumnus, Cuomo has three daughters from his marriage to Kerry Kennedy, which ended in divorce in 2005. His influence extends through family ties and connections in national Democratic circles, including financial support from figures like Michael Bloomberg.