look book

The Look Book Goes to Kathy Hochul’s Election Night Party

The governor and fellow New York Democrats at Capitale as the midterm results came in.

Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland
Photo: DeSean McClinton-Holland

Drew Thomas (pictured above)
Senior finance associate, Hell’s Kitchen

Are you having fun?
Honestly, this is the most Gossip Girl–esque thing I’ve gotten to do in my life. I’m on the governor’s campaign team, so I started the night checking people in. But by 9:30, I was freed and finally got to be Blair Waldorf — in this insane venue, all the lights, camera, action. Right out of the gate, Schumey won, so that was a good palate cleanser, then Tish, then I saw Erik Bottcher, my City Council member for Hell’s Kitchen. He’s famous because he’s 40 and just really, really handsome and tall. My staff sometimes teases me, like, “Oh my God, it’s your husband.” So that was fun. But I also saw two people I had ghosted. Traditional New York gay hoopla.

What was it like working for Kathy Hochul?
Really relaxed. She doesn’t add any drama or stress or b.s. We have this cringey whiteboard in the office where we put one question for the team a day, and she even walks up and answers it with an Expo marker. It’s disarming.

Carlos Plaza

Community-affairs director, Elmhurst

Amara Balan

Book editor, West Village


What brings you here?

I was invited to the black-tie National Book Awards soon, so this was a test run for my fancy-event persona. I’m glad I dressed up. I ended up chatting with New Jersey governor Phil Murphy about how the Giants are doing.

Anicia Gillespie

Consultant, Hell’s Kitchen

Eugene Resnick

Deputy communications director, Astoria

Jay S. Jacobs

State-party chairman, Laurel Hollow


What do you do outside of work?

I collect historical documents. I’ve got the last letter Lyndon Johnson ever wrote — which was to me on the day he died. I also have Franklin Roosevelt’s first paycheck as president, one of Harry Truman’s canes, and one of Winston Churchill’s cigars.

Jen Holder

Entrepreneur, Rosedale

Cindy Fu

Life-insurance agent, Chinatown

Naomi Gneco

Software engineer, Lower East Side

Julio Pérez

Journalist, Astoria

Cierra Smith

Deputy communications director, Harlem

Chéla S. Wallace

Educator, Harlem

Paul Adler

Real-estate attorney, Nyack-on-Hudson


Bump into anyone you know tonight?

Yes. I’ve been involved in Democratic politics for 46 years now, so this is Old Home Week for me, my Academy Awards red carpet. I saw my unlikeliest friend, former Republican state senator Nick Spano. He’s supporting the governor, so we had a hug, a kiss on the cheek.

Kim Best

Community advocate, Bedford-Stuyvesant

Rose Graham

Assistant principal, Canarsie

Jenifer Rajkumar

State Assembly member, Woodhaven

Carolyna Corey

Party-affairs coordinator, Carroll Gardens


How was working on the campaign?

I got starstruck every time I saw the governor in the office. I’m 23 and not good around people with a Wikipedia page. I saw Harry Styles face-to-face this year, and I froze. Recently, Hillary Clinton was ten feet away from me — froze up again.

Bailey Street

Paralegal, West Village

Lily Marrone

Political coordinator, Turtle Bay

Photographs by DeSean McClinton-Holland

Carlos Plaza

Community-affairs director, Elmhurst

Amara Balan

Book editor, West Village


What brings you here?

I was invited to the black-tie National Book Awards soon, so this was a test run for my fancy-event persona. I’m glad I dressed up. I ended up chatting with New Jersey governor Phil Murphy about how the Giants are doing.

Anicia Gillespie

Consultant, Hell’s Kitchen

Eugene Resnick

Deputy communications director, Astoria

Jay S. Jacobs

State-party chairman, Laurel Hollow


What do you do outside of work?

I collect historical documents. I’ve got the last letter Lyndon Johnson ever wrote — which was to me on the day he died. I also have Franklin Roosevelt’s first paycheck as president, one of Harry Truman’s canes, and one of Winston Churchill’s cigars.

Jen Holder

Entrepreneur, Rosedale

Cindy Fu

Life-insurance agent, Chinatown

Naomi Gneco

Software engineer, Lower East Side

Julio Pérez

Journalist, Astoria

Cierra Smith

Deputy communications director, Harlem

Chéla S. Wallace

Educator, Harlem

Paul Adler

Real-estate attorney, Nyack-on-Hudson


Bump into anyone you know tonight?

Yes. I’ve been involved in Democratic politics for 46 years now, so this is Old Home Week for me, my Academy Awards red carpet. I saw my unlikeliest friend, former Republican state senator Nick Spano. He’s supporting the governor, so we had a hug, a kiss on the cheek.

Kim Best

Community advocate, Bedford-Stuyvesant

Rose Graham

Assistant principal, Canarsie

Jenifer Rajkumar

State Assembly member, Woodhaven

Carolyna Corey

Party-affairs coordinator, Carroll Gardens


How was working on the campaign?

I got starstruck every time I saw the governor in the office. I’m 23 and not good around people with a Wikipedia page. I saw Harry Styles face-to-face this year, and I froze. Recently, Hillary Clinton was ten feet away from me — froze up again.

Bailey Street

Paralegal, West Village

Lily Marrone

Political coordinator, Turtle Bay

Photographs by DeSean McClinton-Holland

More From This Series

See All
The Look Book Goes to Kathy Hochul’s Election Night Party