BUFFALO, N.Y. — University at Buffalo political science professor Shawn Donahue wasn't surprised that Governor Andrew Cuomo is leaving office, but he was surprised by the timing of the announcement of his resignation, a week after the state attorney general's report alleging Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women.

"It seemed like one of his strategies may have been to try to drag out the process as long as possible to possibly see if something would happen where he could maybe remain in power,” he said. “But I think the handwriting was on the wall for him.”

Donahue said it's likely the governor saw his political support rapidly erode and knew impeachment and removal from office was becoming the apparent end result. Only one governor has ever been impeached in New York's history, and Donahue believes Cuomo did not want that process as part of any legacy he leaves. 

"This was somebody that completely dominated New York politics for more than 10 years and someone that, before the allegations, looked like he would easily get a fourth term in office,” he said. “So it is a spectacular downfall.”

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul now prepares to make history as the state's first female governor, taking over during a time of political strife in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"Governor Hochul will have an interesting task before her because she's still going to have a Democratic super majority in both chambers of the legislature, and there are a lot of issues that are going to be coming up in the next year or so," Donahue said. 

He added should Hochul decide to run for reelection in 2022, she'll have the benefit of more than a year in office to introduce herself to all of New York state.