Politics : Kathy Hochul will become New York’s first female governor at midnight tonight

Incoming Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed women to two top government posts before her official midnight Tuesday swearing in to replace disgraced outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo as New York State’s 57th chief executive.

Hochul — who will become the first female governor in state history — tapped Karen Persichilli Keogh as secretary — the most powerful aide in state government.

She also named Elizabeth Fine as counsel to the governor, the point person on all legislation and legal issues.

Hochul, in a statement, said, “Karen Persichilli Keogh and Elizabeth Fine bring the depth of knowledge, leadership,and experience that it will take to meet the challenges New Yorkers face.

“As Governor, I will assemble a strong team to turn the corner on the pandemic and serve the best interests of New York, whether it’s defeating COVID, getting more people vaccinated, or strengthening our economy.”

Hochul will be sworn in as New York State’s 57th Governor — and first female chief executive — by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore in a private ceremony closed to the press.

She will be joined by her husband William Hochul Jr. — a former US attorney in Western New York and a powerful executive at Buffalo-based gaming company Delaware North — and her two kids, Will and Katie and their spouses, according to a Hochul spokeswoman.

She will later hold a ceremonial swearing in the state Capitol building at 10 a.m.

The new governor will then meet with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx).

Hochul is scheduled to deliver a virtual address to the public at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

As disgraced outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo packed his bags and sent his belongings to his sister’s house in his last days in office, he left something very important behind — his dog.

Instead, Cuomo asked staff at his Albany mansion if they want to take care of his dog, Captain, the Albany Times Union reported, citing two state police sources.

The sources also told the publication an Executive Mansion worker recently took Captain home but didn’t want to take care of the canine.

The pooch — a 3½-year-old Siberian-shepherd-Malamute mix — has bitten multiple people in recent years, the Times Union reported.

Libby Post — head of the New York State Animal Protection Federation, an animal shelter advocacy group — suggested Cuomo leave the dog at a shelter with “behavioral experts” who could put an end to Captain’s nipping.

“I read with disbelief in this morning’s Times Union, that Captain, Governor Cuomo’s dog, had been left at the Executive Mansion after Cuomo’s belongings had been moved out of the Eagle Street building,” Post said in a statement Monday.

“The New York State Animal Protection Federation is ready to help place Captain at one of our larger New York State animal shelters, such as the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in Menands, just north of Albany.