New York’s new governor is proving to be adept at the power game

“I’M A BUFFALO BILLS fan. I always have an underdog mentality,” said Kathy Hochul, New York’s governor, earlier this month. Last summer she succeeded Andrew Cuomo, who had resigned amid sexual-harassment and abuse allegations. Few then would have predicted she would be the front-runner in November’s governor’s race and scoring umpteen political touchdowns. The recent state Democratic convention, where she was introduced by Hillary Clinton, resembled a coronation. Supporters carried tote bags depicting Ms Hochul as Rosie the Riveter. Ms Hochul is an underdog no longer.

She has surprised even longtime observers of Albany, New York’s capital. “Politically, she’s off to a roaring start,” says John Kaehny of Reinvent Albany, a government watchdog. Despite being Mr Cuomo’s deputy, she has successfully distanced herself from him and his alleged misdeeds. She is more cordial with lawmakers (Ron Kim, a Democratic assemblyman, has said Mr Cuomo threatened to “destroy” him after he criticised the governor). Instead of vetoing bills, she requests tweaks to get the legislation she wants. “She may not agree with what you want to do, but at least there’s a conversation,” says Sandy Galef, a Democratic assemblywoman.

Ms Hochul has promised to forge a “new era of transparency” in Albany, where ethics scandals are the norm. She is...