So, Is Andrew Cuomo Single or What?

New Your governor Andrew Cuomo, once married to Kerry Kennedy, broke up with Sandra Lee in 2019 after more than a decade together.

andrew cuomo, new york, united states 20200503 new york state governor andrew cuomo daily media briefing on covid 19 pandemic at manhattan office photo by lev radinpacific presslightrocket via getty images
(Image credit: Pacific Press)

Update, 8/3: A report from the New York State attorney general found that Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, retaliated against one of those women for speaking out, and created a toxic and predatory work culture. Cuomo now faces calls to resign.


Original post: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has served as a voice of reason and comfort for many New Yorkers during the coronavirus, and his daily updates on the coronavirus pandemic have made him a household name to those who were only a little familiar with him. With Cuomo's increasingly prominent national status, of course, comes the seemingly inevitable "Wait, what's going on with his personal life again?" question. Well, I have answers for you: The short answer is that Cuomo was married once and had a long-term partner for a number of years, but is currently not dating anyone (that we know of). But let's dive into all the details together, shall we?

Cuomo was married for 15 years.

Cuomo's marriage to Kerry Kennedy lasted 15 years, from 1990 to 2005, and the couple were deemed "Cuomolot" by the press. It was apparently an intense relationship: Both are from prominent political families, and Cuomo's focused political aspirations put stress on Kennedy. They have three kids together: Mariah, Cara, and Michaela. They're all activists like their parents, and Kennedy and Cuomo apparently have a friendly relationship even after the divorce.

Cuomo dated Sandra Lee for a long time.

Chef and author Sandra Lee, who was with Cuomo for 14 years, was unofficially known as New York's "First Girlfriend." They met at a party in 2005, right as both of them were finalizing their respective divorces. She wasn't as public as he was, apparently preferring to work behind-the-scenes instead, although more recently she became an advocate for cancer screening after she herself was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.

The two broke up in 2019 without citing any particular reason. "Over the recent past, we have realized that our lives have gone in different directions and our romantic relationship has turned into a deep friendship," the two confirmed in a joint statement. Even though this was officially denied by the governor's office, "A person with knowledge of the couple’s relationship said that Ms. Lee’s more public profile—and recent embrace of a more political role in her personal life—had caused friction with the governor."

Lee and Cuomo are still close.

Lee is currently sheltering in place, but says she watches Cuomo's daily coronavirus briefings and shares thoughts with him. The two apparently still talk every day, and Lee explained, "He’s still my guy." She added, "Neither one of us, well as far as I know, has had a date." (I mean, I feel like that might be tough right now anyways, given how busy they both are.) She's close to his kids, too: "We share a home, we share children, we share friendship," she said. "I will protect him and be there for him until the day I die."

Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York TimesParentsInStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLEHarper’s BazaarSeventeenGood Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeanshow sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.