NEW YORK — Kathy Hochul was officially sworn in as New York state’s first woman governor just after midnight.

The moderate Democrat from the Buffalo area was sworn as the 57th governor of New York by the state's chief judge, Janet DiFiore, during a private ceremony.

Hochul, 62, who had been the lieutenant governor, takes the reins from Andrew Cuomo, who resigned after a report from state Attorney General Letitia James substantiated sexual harassment allegations from 11 women against Cuomo.

Hochul, the first governor from upstate in more than a century, has promised to turn the page.

“No one will ever describe my administration as a toxic work environment,” she said at an Aug. 11 news conference.

• In farewell address, Cuomo touts accomplishments, continues to denounce allegations against him

Hochul says she plans to keep on some Cuomo appointees for 45 days so she can interview new applicants. But she says no one who has behaved unethically will be on her staff.

Her term will last through the end of 2022, but she plans to run for a full term as governor next year in what will likely be a crowded Democratic primary.

On the eve of her swearing-in, Hochul appointed two women as her top aides: Karen Persichilli Keogh as secretary to the governor and Elizabeth Fine as counsel to the governor.

Hochul now has the challenges of dealing with a recent surge in COVID-19 cases, an unsettled economy, and getting federal relief to tenants and landlords.

Over the weekend, Hochul was in the Hamptons to review Tropical Storm Henri preparedness with an under-the-radar presence as Cuomo held the official state briefings. The spotlight on Hochul will be bigger now, but insiders say she’s ready, having built up goodwill, in part by visiting all of New York’s 62 counties each year.

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This story includes reporting from Emily Ngo.

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