Spectrum News projects that New York state Attorney General Letitia James successfully secured a second term and beat her Republican opponent Michael Henry 54.2% to 45.8%, with nearly 83% of the vote reported Wednesday morning, according to The Associated Press.
James, the first woman and first Black New Yorker elected attorney general, won in 2018 and has defined her tenure with high-profile investigations into then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former President Donald Trump.
"No one will be permitted to stand in the way of the pursuit of justice, no matter how powerful they are," James wrote on Twitter in February after a judge ruled Trump had to testify in her civil investigation.
Even as other members of the Democratic statewide ticket agreed to debate their Republican opponents, James declined and largely eschewed campaigning in favor of official business. She declined Spectrum News’ invitation to participate in a debate with Henry.
“This is our job interview and she didn’t show up to her job interview and she should not be rehired,” Henry told NY1 Friday.
Ultimately, her minimal campaign and unwillingness to engage with her opponent didn’t hurt her enough to make a difference. New Yorkers were satisfied with her record as the third most well-known statewide official running this cycle, after Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Chuck Schumer, according to an October Siena College poll.
Her August 2021 report on Cuomo found he had sexually harassed at least 11 women and engaged in “unlawful retaliation” against at least one accuser.
“The independent investigation has concluded Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and in doing so violated federal and state law,” James said at a press conference announcing her findings.
A week after the report was released, the governor announced his resignation, potentially opening up the opportunity for James to run to succeed him. After a brief campaign, she announced she planned to run for a second term as attorney general instead.
"I have come to the conclusion that I must continue my work as attorney general,” James said in a statement at the time. “There are a number of important investigations and cases that are underway, and I intend to finish the job.”