Letitia James
Advanced from the Democratic and Working Families Party primaries unopposed; both primaries were canceled.
Letitia James is the incumbent Democratic Attorney General of New York, seeking a third full term. Since taking office in 2019 she has pursued civil fraud litigation against Donald Trump and the Trump Organization, dozens of lawsuits against Trump administration policies on immigration, health care and federal funding, and consumer-protection settlements against corporations including Meta and Capital One. In 2025 she was federally indicted on mortgage-fraud charges brought by the Trump-era Justice Department; the case was dismissed and two subsequent grand juries declined to re-indict her.[1][15][16]
On the record — official actions
- legal2025-08-21 · Won affirmation from the Appellate Division, First Department, on August 21, 2025, of the finding that Donald Trump, the Trump Organization, and two of his children are liable for fraud in the state's civil fraud case; the court also upheld injunctive relief restricting their business operations in New York. James stated she would seek appeal to the Court of Appeals over the earlier reduction of the financial penalty.[7]
- legal2025-12-04 · Was indicted in October 2025 on federal bank-fraud and false-statement charges related to a 2020 home purchase; the case was dismissed in November 2025 after a judge ruled the prosecuting U.S. attorney was illegally appointed, and a federal grand jury in Virginia twice declined, in December 2025, to return a new indictment against her.[15][16]
- action2026-08-26 · Joined a coalition of 51 attorneys general in a settlement with Meta of up to $17.1 billion (New York's share $819 million to $1.15 billion), announced August 26, 2026, requiring new time limits, notification restrictions and content protections for users under 18 on Facebook and Instagram.[8]
- action2026-09-17 · Joined a coalition of 40 states and the District of Columbia in a $700 million settlement with subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance Corporation, announced September 17, 2026, including more than $630 million in consumer debt relief and about $34 million for roughly 2,500 New York consumers.[9]
- action2026-01-12 · Commended a $425 million class-action settlement with Capital One, announced January 12, 2026, after having led a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing an earlier, less favorable proposed settlement over allegations the bank misled 360 Savings account customers out of higher interest payments; about $34 million goes to New York consumers.[10]
- legal2026-06-29 · Joined a coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia suing the Trump administration's HHS and CMS on June 29, 2026, to block a rule imposing new Medicaid work and eligibility-verification requirements, arguing it would strip coverage from about 475,000 New Yorkers.[5]
- legal2026-05-04 · Led a 22-state coalition amicus brief on May 4, 2026, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stay a Fifth Circuit ruling that would have reinstated in-person dispensing requirements for the abortion medication mifepristone.[3]
- legal2026-06-16 · Filed the first lawsuits under her office's de facto rent-stabilization compliance program on June 16, 2026, against two Brooklyn landlords accused of failing to register rent-stabilized buildings with New York State Homes and Community Renewal and of attempting to illegally evict tenants and violating tenant-harassment laws.[6]
- legal2025-07-11 · Intervened in her official capacity as a defendant in Trucking Association of New York v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, a suit challenging Manhattan's congestion pricing program, filing a motion to dismiss the amended complaint on July 11, 2025.[11]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsProtect legal access to abortion
Has led multistate coalitions defending access to the abortion medication mifepristone, including an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stay a Fifth Circuit ruling that would have reinstated in-person dispensing requirements.[3]
“Forcing patients to obtain mifepristone in person will not make anyone safer.”
- SupportsStricter gun laws
Campaign describes ongoing work against gun violence and illegal firearms, citing more than 9,600 guns taken off New York streets through buyback and enforcement efforts.[2]
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Defended New York's Local Cops, Local Crimes Act, which bars local law enforcement from entering 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE, saying it keeps public-safety resources focused on crime rather than immigration enforcement.[4]
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Sued the Trump administration's HHS and CMS over a rule imposing new Medicaid work requirements, arguing it would strip coverage from roughly 475,000 New Yorkers and put $17.5 billion in federal Medicaid funding at risk.[5]
“This rule would create needless barriers for some of our most vulnerable neighbors.”
- SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protections
Launched a "de facto" rent-stabilization compliance program and filed the program's first lawsuits against two Brooklyn landlords in June 2026, seeking rent-stabilized leases, overcharge restitution with 9% interest, and civil penalties.[6]
In their words — priorities
- Protecting the 2026 elections from what her campaign describes as federal efforts to federalize voting, including opposing the SAVE Act and challenging a presidential executive order on election administration.[2]
- Public safety, including efforts against gun violence, illegal firearms and "ghost guns"; her campaign says gun buyback and enforcement efforts have taken more than 9,600 guns off New York streets.[2]
- Holding the Trump administration accountable, citing lawsuits and other legal action to protect New Yorkers' rights and funding for health care, public education and jobs.[2]
- Consumer protection, including legislative advocacy in Albany for the FAIR Business Practices Act and enforcement actions against corporations.[2]
- Housing, described on her campaign site as "a decades-long track record of protecting housing rights for vulnerable New Yorkers."[2]
Background
- Earned a bachelor's degree from the City University of New York and a law degree from Howard University.[17]
- Served on the New York City Council representing Brooklyn's 35th District from 2004 to 2013.[17][18]
- Served as New York City Public Advocate from 2014 to 2018, the first African American woman to be elected to and hold citywide office in New York City.[17][18]
- Elected Attorney General of New York in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, defeating Michael Henry 54.6% to 45.3%.[1]