GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO (1957–)

 

When Andrew Cuomo was running for governor of New York, he pledged he would push for gay marriage if elected. He won, and within six months of taking office, he signed the Marriage Equality Act into law, making New York the fifth state and sixth jurisdiction (after Washington, DC) to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. One month later, on July 24, 2011, the law went into effect. Six Republican senators were convinced to vote in favor of the law, knowing that it might mean the end of their political career—and in at least one case, it probably was. Senator Roy McDonald was narrowly defeated in a primary challenge by gay-marriage opponent Kathleen Marchione.