Nationwide — Adrienne Adams has made history after winning the New York lieutenant governor race. She graduated from Spelman College, an HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia, and will become the first Black woman elected to the position, marking another milestone in the state of New York. She won alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul, and their victory makes them the first all-woman ticket elected to lead the state’s executive branch.
The Associated Press projected the Democratic ticket’s victory on Tuesday night, with Hochul and Adams defeating Republican Bruce Blakeman and his running mate, Todd Hood. With approximately 76% of precincts reporting, the Democrats held a strong lead of about 60% to 38%. The margin remained steady as more votes came in, securing another term for Hochul and a new statewide position for Adams.
As lieutenant governor, Adams will preside over the New York State Senate and serve as the state’s second-highest executive official. She will also be first in line to succeed the governor if the position becomes vacant. Hochul experienced that transition herself in 2021. She became governor after Andrew Cuomo resigned, having previously served as his lieutenant governor. Adams will now take on the same responsibilities while bringing her experience leading the New York City Council to state government.
A lifelong resident of Southeast Queens, Adams grew up in Hollis with parents who both worked for labor unions. She attended St. Pascal Baylon Elementary School and Bayside High School before moving to Atlanta to attend Spelman College, according to HBCU Buzz. She graduated in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and later became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Before entering politics, she worked in corporate training and early childhood education. She also remained active in her community, becoming chair of Queens Community Board 12 in 2009 and later serving on the Queens Library board of trustees.
Her political career began in 2017 when she won a seat on the New York City Council representing District 28. She became the first woman elected to represent the district and went on to win reelection in 2021 and 2023. In January 2022, her fellow council members elected her speaker, making her the first Black person to hold the position. She led the city’s most diverse Council at the time, which also had a women-majority membership. During her leadership, she focused on affordable housing, public safety, maternal health and reproductive health care access. She previously chaired the Council’s Committee on Public Safety, where she supported police accountability measures and community violence prevention programs. Her time as speaker also included disagreements with then-Mayor Eric Adams over city budgets, criminal justice policies and commissioner appointments. The two are not related.
After reaching the Council’s term limit, Adams left the position in 2025 and ran for New York City mayor. She did not advance beyond the Democratic primary, but her political career continued when Hochul chose her as a running mate. Their election victory now gives her a place in state government and makes her the first Black woman elected lieutenant governor in New York history.