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William Sulzer (March 18, 1863 – November 6, 1941) was a Governor of New York.

Sulzer was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1863. He was a U.S. Representative from New York between 1895 and 1912; the following year he became the Governor of New York. He was impeached and removed from office on October 13, 1913, after just 10 months on the job. He was subsequently elected to the New York State Assembly just a month later. He died in New York City in 1941.

Governor Sulzer was impeached for allegedly diverting campaign contributions to his own use, although historians still debate whether the charges were well-grounded, or baseless and politically driven. He had enjoyed Tammany Hall support as the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1912, but he quickly drew the ire of the powerful leader of that New York City organization, Charles F. Murphy, by refusing to accept party instructions on appointments, by seeking primary elections rather than nominating by convention, and other actions. Sulzer and many historians later challenged that the impeachment charges were due to political infighting rather than his real or perceived infractions.

According to the hagiographic 1914 book, The Boss or the Governor, by Samuel Bell Thomas, a crowd of 10,000 gathered outside the Executive Mansion on the night Governor Sulzer left Albany, leading to an exchange as follows:

Mr. Sulzer: "My friends, this is a stormy night. It is certainly very good of you to come here to bid Mrs. Sulzer and me good-bye."

A voice from the crowd: "You will come back, Bill, next year."

Mr. Sulzer: "You know why we are going away."

A voice: "Because you were too honest."

Mr. Sulzer: "I impeach the criminal conspirators, these looters and grafters, for stealing the taxpayers' money. That is what I never did."

From the crowd: Cheers.

Mr. Sulzer: "Yes my friends, I know that the court of public opinion before long will reverse the judgement of Murphy's 'court of infamy.'"

From the crowd: Cheers.

Mr. Sulzer: "Posterity will do me justice. Time sets all things right. I shall be patient."

From the crowd: Cheers.

Sulzer was able to recover somewhat politically. He got elected to the NYS Assembly a few weeks later, was an independent candidate for Governor in 1914, and even declined the American Party's nomination for President of the United States.

Some in Albany maintain that he was impeached unfairly, and there have been several pieces of legislation introduced in the New York State Assembly and Senate to have his political record repaired. None has been successful.

William Sulzer's official portrait is the only one of a Governor that does not hang in the "Hall of Governors," the main hallway leading to the Executive Chamber, located within the New York State Capitol in Albany.

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