David Alexander Paterson is the current Governor of New York State. He is the first African American governor of New York, and the first legally blind governor in the United States.
After graduating from law school, David Paterson worked in the District Attorney's office of Queens County, N.Y., and on the staff of Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins.
In 1985, the Democrat was elected to the New York State Senate to a seat that was once held by his father, the former New York Secretary of State, Basil Paterson.
In 2003, David Paterson rose to the position of Senate Minority Leader.
Paterson was selected as running mate by then New York Attorney General and Democratic Party nominee Eliot Spitzer in the 2006 New York gubernatorial election. They were elected in November 2006 with 69 percent of the vote, and Paterson took office as Lieutenant Governor in January 2007.
On March 12, 2008, as a result of a prostitution scandal, Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation as governor, effective March 17, 2008.
Under provisions in the N.Y. State Constitution, Paterson then became governor. The date was requested by Paterson to provide time for a smooth and orderly transition, and to permit his swearing in before a joint session of the New York legislature.
David Paterson has been married to Michelle Paige Paterson since 1992; he is her second husband. They have a son together (born 1994) and Michelle Paterson has a daughter from her first marriage.
NATIONAL[NOTE: Figures above are averages of the 3-6 most recent surveys in each area. Updated June 17]
