ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York at the stroke of midnight Tuesday, taking control of a state government desperate to get back to business after months of distractions over sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo.

The Democrat from western New York was sworn in as governor in a brief, private ceremony in the New York State Capitol overseen by the states chief judge, Janet DiFiore.

Afterward, she told WGRZ, a Buffalo television station, she felt the weight of responsibility on her shoulders.

Ill tell New Yorkers Im up to the task. And Im really proud to be able to serve as their governor and I wont let them down, she said.