Who Governs New York City? The Mayor, Not a Governor

New York City does not have a governor. It has a Mayor.

Current Mayor (as of 2024): Eric Adams – in office since January 1, 2022. Former NYPD captain, Brooklyn borough president. Second Black mayor in NYC history (after David Dinkins).

NYC vs. New York State

• NYC Mayor – runs the city (8.8M people, $100B+ budget, schools, police, housing, sanitation, etc.).
• NYS Governor – runs the state (20M people, entire state apparatus). Current: Kathy Hochul (since 2021).

The confusion is common—NYC is the only U.S. city with a population larger than 39 states, so it feels like a state. But structurally, it's a municipality within New York State.