# 2022 New York Attorney General election

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vte :
The 2022 New York Attorney General election was held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Letitia James was eligible for re-election, but originally decided to run for Governor of New York in 2022. On December 9, 2021, however, she suspended her gubernatorial campaign and announced that she would seek re-election as attorney general. Republicans nominated Michael Henry, an attorney from Queens. James defeated Henry by a margin of 9.2%, down from her 27.2% victory in 2018.
Of all the statewide races in New York in 2022, this is the only one where the incumbent (Letitia James) refused to debate their opponent.

## Democratic primary

After incumbent attorney general Letitia James announced her candidacy for governor of New York, several other Democrats launched campaigns for attorney general. When James suspended her campaign for governor and announced that she would seek re-election instead, those candidates ended their campaigns for attorney general and endorsed James. As of June 23, 2022, James had no primary challengers. The Democratic primary for AG was cancelled and James advanced to the November general election.

### Candidates
#### Official designee

* Letitia James, incumbent attorney general (2019–present) (previously ran for governor)

#### Withdrew

* Dan Goldman, former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (2007–2017) and former general counsel for the U.S. House Intelligence Committee (2019–2020) (running for U.S. House, endorsed James)
* Shelley Mayer, state senator from the 37th district (2018–present) (running for re-election, endorsed James)
* Zephyr Teachout, Fordham University Associate Professor, candidate for governor in 2014, nominee for NY-19 in 2016, and candidate for attorney general in 2018 (endorsed James)
* Clyde Vanel, state assemblyman for the 33rd District of New York (2017–present) (running for re-election, endorsed James)
* Maria Vullo, former Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services (endorsed James)

#### Declined

* Michael Gianaris, state senator from the 12th district (2011–present); Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate (2019–present); state assemblymember from the 36th district (2001–2010) (running for re-election, endorsed James)
* Laura Gillen, former town supervisor of Hempstead (2018–2019) (running for U.S. House)
* Sean Patrick Maloney, U.S. representative for NY-18 (2015–present); candidate for attorney general in 2018 (running for re-election, endorsed James)
* Kathleen Rice, U.S. representative for NY-04 (2015–present) (endorsed James)
* Thomas Suozzi, U.S. representative for NY-3 (2017–present) (running for governor)

#### Endorsements

U.S. representatives
* Adam Schiff, U.S. Representative for CA-28 (2013–present)
U.S. executive branch officials
* Dan Goldman, assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (2007–2017) and general counsel for the U.S. House Intelligence Committee (2019–2020)
U.S. senators
* Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator from New York (2009–present)
* Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader (2021–present) and U.S. Senator from New York (1999–present)
U.S. representatives
* Jamaal Bowman, U.S. Representative for NY-16 (2021–present)
* Yvette Clarke, U.S. Representative for NY-09 (2013–present)
* Adriano Espaillat, U.S. Representative for NY-13 (2017–present)
* Brian Higgins, U.S. Representative for NY-26 (2013–present)
* Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. Representative for NY-08 (2013–present)
* Mondaire Jones, U.S. Representative for NY-17 (2021–present)
* Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Representative for NY-12 (2013–present)
* Sean Patrick Maloney, U.S. Representative for NY-18 (2013–present)
* Gregory Meeks, U.S. Representative for NY-05 (2013–present)
* Grace Meng, U.S. Representative for NY-06 (2013–present)
* Joseph Morelle, U.S. Representative for NY-25 (2018–present)
* Jerry Nadler, U.S. Representative for NY-10 (2013–present)
* Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Representative for NY-14 (2019–present)
* Kathleen Rice, U.S. Representative for NY-04 (2015–present)
* Ritchie Torres, U.S. Representative for NY-15 (2021–present)
* Nydia Velázquez, U.S. Representative for NY-07 (2013–present)
State officials
* Michael Gianaris, state senator from the 12th district (2011–present), Deputy Majority Leader of the New York State Senate (2019–present), and state assemblymember from the 36th district (2001–2010)
* Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, state assemblymember from the 47th district (2015–present)
* Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York (2021–present), Lieutenant Governor of New York (2015–2021), U.S. Representative for NY-26 (2011–2013)
* Shelley Mayer, state senator from the 37th district (2018–present)
* Clyde Vanel, state assemblymember from the 33rd district (2017–present)
Local officials
* Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City (2022–present) and Brooklyn Borough President (2014–2022)
Individuals
* Zephyr Teachout, Fordham University law professor, candidate for governor in 2014, nominee for NY-19 in 2016, and candidate for attorney general in 2018
* Maria Vullo, former Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services
Organizations
* Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund
* Hotel Trades Council, New York hotel workers' union
State officials
* Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota (2019–present); U.S. Representative for MN-05 (2007–2019)
* Emily Gallagher, state assemblymember from the 50th district (2021–present)
* Anna Kelles, state assemblymember from the 125th district (2021–present)
* Ron Kim, state assemblymember from the 40th district (2013–present)
* Phillip Steck, state assemblymember from the 110th district (2013–present)
Local officials
* Mark Green, New York City Public Advocate (1994–2001)
* Svante Myrick, Mayor of Ithaca (2012–2022)
Individuals
* Lawrence Lessig, Harvard Law School professor; candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2016

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Andrew Cuomo | Michael Gianaris | Daniel Goldman | Eric Gonzalez | Letitia James | Melinda Katz | Sean Patrick Maloney | Shelley Mayer | Kathleen Rice | Zephyr Teachout | Clyde Vanel | Maria Vullo | Other | Undecided |
| Emerson College | March 9–10, 2022 | 504 (LV) | ± 4.3% | – | – | – | – | 47% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 25% | 28% |
| Emerson College | March 9–10, 2022 | 504 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 33% | – | – | – | 45% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 13% | 9% |
| Data for Progress (D) | November 16–17, 2021 | 528 (LV) | ± 4.0% | – | 2% | 5% | 7% | – | 7% | 8% | 2% | 7% | 15% | 1% | 1% | – | 48% |

## Republican primary

Two candidates, John Sarcone and Michael Henry, competed for the Republican nomination. In a surprise move, Sarcone declined to be nominated at the state Republican convention, leading to Henry earning the endorsement unanimously.

### Candidates
#### Official designee

* Michael Henry, attorney

#### Declined

* Joseph H. Holland, former Commissioner of the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal; candidate for attorney general in 1994 and 2018

#### Withdrew

* John Sarcone, former General Services Administration official

#### Endorsements

Federal officials
* Elise Stefanik, United States Representative in Congress (2015–present)
Organizations
* New York Young Republican Club

## Conservative primary
### Candidates
#### Official designee

* Michael Henry, attorney

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe D | September 14, 2022 |
| Elections Daily | Safe D | November 1, 2022 |

#### Post-primary endorsements

Newspapers
* The Buffalo News
* Newsday
* The Post-Standard
* Times Union
U.S. executive branch officials
* Nikki Haley, United States ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018) and former Governor of South Carolina (2011–2017)
Newspapers
* New York Post

### Polling

Graphical summary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Letitia James (D) | Michael Henry (R) | Other | Undecided |
| KAConsulting (R) | October 27–29, 2022 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 47% | 41% | – | 8% |
| Data for Progress (D) | October 26–28, 2022 | 818 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 55% | 40% | – | 6% |
| Slingshot Strategies (D) | October 25–26, 2022 | 1,000 (LV) | ± 3.1% | 48% | 36% | – | 16% |
| Siena College | October 12–14, 2022 | 707 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 51% | 40% | 1% | 8% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R) | September 30 – October 3, 2022 | 1,087 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 44% | 45% | 0% | 10% |
| Siena College | September 16–25, 2022 | 655 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 53% | 37% | 1% | 9% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R) | August 31 – September 1, 2022 | 1,091 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 43% | 44% | 0% | 13% |
| Emerson College | July 26–28, 2022 | 1,000 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 50% | 32% | 4% | 12% |
| Siena College | July 24–28, 2022 | 806 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 50% | 36% | 0% | 13% |
Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican with Andrew Cuomo as an independent
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Generic Democrat | Generic Republican | Andrew Cuomo (I) | Undecided |
| Emerson College | March 9–10, 2022 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 36% | 34% | 13% | 17% |

### Results

2022 New York Attorney General election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Letitia James | 2,875,687 | 49.58% | −8.80% |
| | Working Families | Letitia James | 292,569 | 5.05% | +2.51% |
| | Total | Letitia James (incumbent) | 3,168,256 | 54.63% | −7.79% |
| | Republican | Michael Henry | 2,317,573 | 39.96% | +9.05% |
| | Conservative | Michael Henry | 313,728 | 5.41% | +1.12% |
| | Total | Michael Henry | 2,631,301 | 45.37% | +10.17% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,799,557 | 100.0% | N/A |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### By congressional district

James won 16 of 26 congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.
| District | James | Henry | Representative |
| 1st | 44% | 56% | Lee Zeldin (117th Congress) |
| 1st | 44% | 56% | Nick LaLota (118th Congress) |
| 2nd | 41% | 59% | Andrew Garbarino |
| 3rd | 45% | 55% | Tom Suozzi (117th Congress) |
| 3rd | 45% | 55% | George Santos (118th Congress) |
| 4th | 48% | 52% | Kathleen Rice (117th Congress) |
| 4th | 48% | 52% | Anthony D'Esposito (118th Congress) |
| 5th | 74% | 25% | Gregory Meeks |
| 6th | 57% | 43% | Grace Meng |
| 7th | 79% | 21% | Nydia Velázquez |
| 8th | 72% | 28% | Hakeem Jeffries |
| 9th | 72% | 28% | Yvette Clarke |
| 10th | 82% | 17% | Jerry Nadler (117th Congress) |
| 10th | 82% | 17% | Dan Goldman (118th Congress) |
| 11th | 37% | 62% | Nicole Malliotakis |
| 12th | 80% | 20% | Carolyn Maloney (117th Congress) |
| 12th | 80% | 20% | Jerry Nadler (118th Congress) |
| 13th | 88% | 12% | Adriano Espaillat |
| 14th | 72% | 28% | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez |
| 15th | 81% | 19% | Ritchie Torres |
| 16th | 64% | 36% | Jamaal Bowman |
| 17th | 50.4% | 49.6% | Mondaire Jones (117th Congress) |
| 17th | 50.4% | 49.6% | Mike Lawler (118th Congress) |
| 18th | 50% | 49% | Sean Patrick Maloney (117th Congress) |
| 18th | 50% | 49% | Pat Ryan (118th Congress) |
| 19th | 48% | 52% | Pat Ryan (117th Congress) |
| 19th | 48% | 52% | Marc Molinaro (118th Congress) |
| 20th | 55% | 45% | Paul Tonko |
| 21st | 39% | 61% | Elise Stefanik |
| 22nd | 48% | 52% | Claudia Tenney (117th Congress) |
| 22nd | 48% | 52% | Brandon Williams (118th Congress) |
| 23rd | 37% | 63% | Joe Sempolinski (117th Congress) |
| 23rd | 37% | 63% | Nick Langworthy (118th Congress) |
| 24th | 35% | 65% | John Katko (117th Congress) |
| 24th | 35% | 65% | Claudia Tenney (118th Congress) |
| 25th | 54% | 46% | Joseph Morelle |
| 26th | 58% | 42% | Brian Higgins |