Gov. Kathy Hochul was sworn in to a full four-year term as governor of New York on Sunday.

“To paraphrase one of our former governors, Teddy Roosevelt, the people have now chosen a woman to be in the arena,” Hochul said. “You’ve heard of the man in the arena. There’s now a woman in the arena. And that man and that woman are willing to be marred by dust and sweat and blood to strive valiantly and spend herself in a worthy cause.

“The sign says, I didn’t come here to make history. I came here to make a difference and to pursue the worthy causes, and pursue them together,” the governor added. “And as your governor, I’ll keep fighting for you every single day.”

Hochul became the first female governor of New York in August 2021 after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned following a sexual harassment investigation and legislative impeachment probe.

She became the first woman elected governor of New York in November when she defeated Lee Zeldin in the general election.

“We’ll fight the good fights and the worthy pursuits that Roosevelt spoke of. Let’s use these coming years to truly make a difference for each other, and make this state stronger than it’s ever been in our glorious history,” Hochul said.

“New York, just as you have put your faith in me, I thank all the voters of New York, I also have faith in you. And to my very core, I believe there is nothing we cannot accomplish together. And so we will,” the governor added.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

The governor took her oath of office on two Bibles: a personal family Bible and the state's Bible loaned from the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library that originally belonged to FDR's great-grandfather.

The other officials to win statewide races were sworn into their new terms as well on Sunday.

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado was sworn in for his first full term. He took over as lieutenant governor last May after the resignation of Brian Benjamin.

“New York deserves a lieutenant governor who is working day and night to make lives better for working people,” Delgado said. “Upstate, downstate, it doesn’t matter. We all want the same things: security, family and opportunity. The key is to listen to New Yorkers from all walks of life and then do the work to get the job done.”

State Attorney General Letitia James was sworn in for a second term. Her first term included an investigation that resulted in Cuomo’s resignation.

“I pledge to continue to stand up for all New Yorkers, especially those who have been left out of the sunshine of progress,” James said. “Because the law, my friends, is the great equalizer, and it is the office of the New York state attorney general that serves as both a sword and a shield, and over the past four years, we have proven to be fearless in our pursuit of simple justice.”

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who oversees New York’s finances, took the oath of office ahead of his fourth term.

“As the state’s independent financial watchdog, I will continue to advance transparency and accountability in the finances and budget practices of our state and local governments,” DiNapoli said. “Our independent audits and reports will promote efficient and effective spending of taxpayer dollars. When we identify corruption and fraud, we will work with law enforcement, including with our great Attorney General Tish James, to hold wrongdoers responsible.”