Letitia A. James

LETITIA JAMES

DEMOCRAT

BACKGROUND:

• James, 64, of Brooklyn, was first elected attorney general in 2018, becoming the first African American and first woman elected to the job.
• She led two investigations highly critical of ex-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. One of them, regarding sexual harassment allegations, was a leading factor in Cuomo’s decision to resign in 2021.
• She announced a run for governor but switched to running again for attorney general after most Democratic leaders lined up for Gov. Kathy Hochul.
• She has a bachelor’s degree from Lehman College and a law degree from Howard University.

ISSUES:

• She has led several probes of Donald Trump’s business dealings. One resulted in Trump being ordered to pay $2 million for misusing his charity to help his political campaign. An ongoing lawsuit against Trump, his children and his organization alleges broad financial fraud.
• She touts a probe that led accused the Cuomo administration of undercounting deaths in nursing homes due to COVID-19.
• She cites these high-profile cases in saying she will “never be bullied” by those in power.