By JOHAN ABDU, STEPHANIE ROSERO, and JULIAN WATSON
State Attorney General Letita James is preparing to run for Governor of New York next year and will make her announcement within the next few days, the Brooklyn News Service learned.
Kimberly Peeler-Allen, a newly hired adviser to James’ team, delivered a statement Wednesday evening stating James’ decision on the race has been made and James “will be announcing it in the coming days.” James will be fighting current Gov. Kathy Hochul who took the top spot after a sexual harassment report from James’ office led to the resignation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August. Hochul had been Lieutenant Governor.
Multiple outlets, including The New York Times, The Daily News and The City, have reported that James has been preparing her campaign, with filming of ads and recruiting of several advisers, as she actively seeks support of Democrats across the state.
If elected, James will be the first Black woman to lead the state.
Hochul immediately announced her intention to seek a full term when she assumed office back in August. Neither Hochul nor her spokespersons have publicly responded to reports of James’ entry into the race.
Along with James and Hochul, a number of other Democrats seem likely to run for governor, including current New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and current New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Williams has declared he wants to run but has also made clear he is running to secure a full-term as Public Advocate.
Williams wrote on his official Twitter account, “My goal in public service is to fight for the people, against injustice and inertia…As our state works to recover from COVID and move forward from scandal, I’m exploring a run for Governor to renew New York.”
With regard to polls, Hochul appears to be in a good position. A poll by Marist College, released on Tuesday, found that Hochul is the favorite among Democrats in the state. Forty four percent of New York Democrats said they would vote for Hochul, 28 percent for James and 15 percent for Williams, while 13 percent said they were unsure. The poll did not include de Blasio.
The gubernatorial primary is more than eight months away. The findings of the Marist poll are reassuring to Hochul and her supporters.
Since taking office, she has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, which she has called her biggest priority, being active on Twitter discussing vaccinations for children and the expediting of coronavirus relief funds. On the climate change front, she has declared that she rejects renovations to gas-powered power plants.
Hochul has kept a packed schedule of public appearances, moving vigorously through the state, as she tries to secure $25 million in contributions for her campaign, the Times has reported.
As Attorney General, James has been investigating allegations that Trump and his family intentionally misreported property values for tax purposes. Notably, Cuomo accused James of lack of transparency during her strenuous investigations of Cuomo’s sexual misdoings, which led to his resignation. Cuomo said James was motivated by an unannounced intention to have him removed as governor so that she could fill the spot.