Betsy McCaughey - Political Career in New York

Political Career in New York

Following the national attention McCaughey received in the healthcare legislation debate, George Pataki, a one term state senator who was running for governor of New York, chose her as his lieutenant governor running mate. Though she was political novice whom he did not know, he perceived she was popular among conservatives, and was a candidate who could appeal to independents and women. Regarding her status as a political rookie, McCaughey said, "Many New Yorkers see that as a plus."

She said she accepted the nomination believing she would be Pataki's "point person on health policy". After winning the election, Pataki told The New York Times, would have "very real and significant responsibilities" as lieutenant governor. McCaughey was initially tasked by Pataki to work on education policy and on reducing the Medicaid budget. By January 1995 she had produced a set of recommendations that required cost cutting by hospitals and nursing homes, so that the poor did not have to bear the entire burden of balancing the Medicaid budget. However, her recommendations were mainly ignored. After Pataki refused to give her permission to conduct a study into child abuse, she did one anyway, and announced the results. She was publicly critical of the governor's proposed cuts to Medicaid, and gave a pro-choice speech without getting his permission. In March 1996 The New York Times reported that she was locked out of the governor's inner circle because she had violated the unwritten rules of the lieutenant governor's job—which required staying in the governor's shadow, following his orders, and setting personal ambitions aside. In the spring of 1997, Pataki announced that McCaughey would not be his running mate in 1998, later selecting State Supreme Court Justice Mary Donohue to replace her.

Though she had always voted Republican in presidential elections, McCaughy then switched her party affiliation, officially becoming a Democrat, and soon announced her plans to run for governor against Pataki. McCaughey was the early frontrunner for her new party's nomination in part because of her statewide name recognition and financial support from her wealthy husband. During her campaign, she was criticized for firing a succession of aides and political advisers, and for possibly changing her core political beliefs. As her poll numbers sank, her husband withdrew more than half of the campaign funds he had provided. She was defeated in the nomination race by Democratic New York City councilman Peter Vallone, who lost the general election to Pataki 54 percent to 33 percent. McCaughey had earlier received the nomination of the Liberal Party for governor and stayed on the Liberal ticket. The party attracted little support and McCaughey received only 1.65 percent of the vote in the general election.