2022 New York Attorney General election

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.

2022 New York Attorney General election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →

Nominee Letitia James Michael Henry Party Democratic Republican Alliance Working Families Conservative Popular vote 3,168,256 2,631,301 Percentage 54.63% 45.37%

County results Congressional district results Precinct results James:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Henry:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes

Attorney General before election Letitia James Democratic Elected Attorney General Letitia James Democratic

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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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)^[3][4][5]

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)^[6] (running for U.S. House, endorsed James)^[7]
• Shelley Mayer, state senator from the 37th district (2018–present)^[8] (running for re-election, endorsed James)^[9][10]
• Zephyr Teachout, Fordham University Associate Professor, candidate for governor in 2014, nominee for NY-19 in 2016, and candidate for attorney general in 2018^[11] (endorsed James)^[12]
• Clyde Vanel, state assemblyman for the 33rd District of New York (2017–present)^[13][14] (running for re-election, endorsed James)^[15]
• Maria Vullo, former Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services^[16][17] (endorsed James)^[18]

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)^[19] (running for re-election, endorsed James)^[20]
• Laura Gillen, former town supervisor of Hempstead (2018–2019)^[2] (running for U.S. House)^[21]
• Sean Patrick Maloney, U.S. representative for NY-18 (2015–present); candidate for attorney general in 2018 (running for re-election, endorsed James)^{[22][2][23][24]}
• Kathleen Rice, U.S. representative for NY-4 (2015–present) (endorsed James)^[23][22]
• Thomas Suozzi, U.S. representative for NY-3 (2017–present) (running for governor)^[2][25]

Endorsements

Dan Goldman (withdrew)

U.S. representatives

• Adam Schiff, U.S. Representative for CA-28 (2013–present)^[26]

Letitia James

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)^[7]

U.S. senators

• Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator from New York (2009–present)^[27]
• Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader (2021–present) and U.S. Senator from New York (1999–present)^[28]

U.S. representatives^[23]

• 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)^[20]
• Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, state assemblymember from the 47th district (2015–present)^[10]
• Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York (2021–present), Lieutenant Governor of New York (2015–2021), U.S. Representative for NY-26 (2011–2013)^[29]
• Shelley Mayer, state senator from the 37th district (2018–present)^[10]
• Clyde Vanel, state assemblymember from the 33rd district (2017–present)^[15]

Local officials

• Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City (2022–present) and Brooklyn Borough President (2014–2022)^[30]

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^[12]
• Maria Vullo, former Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services^[18]

Organizations

• Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund^[31]
• Hotel Trades Council, New York hotel workers' union^[32]

Zephyr Teachout (withdrew)

State officials

• Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota (2019–present); U.S. Representative for MN-05 (2007–2019)^[33]
• Emily Gallagher, state assemblymember from the 50th district (2021–present)^[11]
• Anna Kelles, state assemblymember from the 125th district (2021–present)^[34]
• Ron Kim, state assemblymember from the 40th district (2013–present)^[11]
• Phillip Steck, state assemblymember from the 110th district (2013–present)^[35]

Local officials

• Mark Green, New York City Public Advocate (1994–2001)^[36]
• Svante Myrick, Mayor of Ithaca (2012–2022)^[34]

Individuals

• Lawrence Lessig, Harvard Law School professor; candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2016^[33]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	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[37]	March 9–10, 2022	504 (LV)	± 4.3%	–	–	–	–	47%	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	25%	28%
				33%	–	–	–	45%	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	13%	9%
Data for Progress (D)[38][b]	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.^[39]

Candidates

Official designee

• Michael Henry, attorney^[40][41]

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^[42][43]

Withdrew

• John Sarcone, former General Services Administration official^[44][40][41]

Endorsements

Michael Henry

Federal officials

• Elise Stefanik, United States Representative in Congress (2015–present)^[45]

Organizations

• New York Young Republican Club^[46]

Conservative primary

Candidates

Official designee

• Michael Henry, attorney^[47]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Sabato's Crystal Ball[48]	Safe D	September 14, 2022
Elections Daily[49]	Safe D	November 1, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Letitia James (D)

Newspapers

• The Buffalo News^[50]
• Newsday^[51]
• The Post-Standard^[52]
• Times Union^[53]

Michael Henry (R)

U.S. executive branch officials

• Nikki Haley, United States ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018) and former Governor of South Carolina (2011–2017)^[54]

Newspapers

• New York Post^[55]

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Letitia James (D)	Michael Henry (R)	Other	Undecided
KAConsulting (R)[56][A]	October 27–29, 2022	501 (LV)	± 4.4%	47%	41%	–	8%
Data for Progress (D)[57]	October 26–28, 2022	818 (LV)	± 3.0%	55%	40%	–	6%
Slingshot Strategies (D)[58]	October 25–26, 2022	1,000 (LV)	± 3.1%	48%	36%	–	16%
Siena College[59]	October 12–14, 2022	707 (LV)	± 4.9%	51%	40%	1%[c]	8%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[60]	September 30 – October 3, 2022	1,087 (LV)	± 2.9%	44%	45%	0%	10%
Siena College[61]	September 16–25, 2022	655 (LV)	± 3.9%	53%	37%	1%[d]	9%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[62]	August 31 – September 1, 2022	1,091 (LV)	± 2.9%	43%	44%	0%	13%
Emerson College[63]	July 26–28, 2022	1,000 (LV)	± 3.0%	50%	32%	4%	12%
Siena College[64]	July 24–28, 2022	806 (LV)	± 3.5%	50%	36%	0%	13%

Hypothetical polling

Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican with Andrew Cuomo as an independent

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Generic Democrat	Generic Republican	Andrew Cuomo (I)	Undecided
Emerson College[37]	March 9–10, 2022	1,000 (RV)	± 3.0%	36%	34%	13%	17%

Results

2022 New York Attorney General election^[65]

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			5,799,557	100.0%	N/A
	Democratic hold

By congressional district

James won 16 of 26 congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.^[66]

District	James	Henry	Representative
1st	44%	56%	Lee Zeldin (117th Congress)
			Nick LaLota (118th Congress)
2nd	41%	59%	Andrew Garbarino
3rd	45%	55%	Tom Suozzi (117th Congress)
			George Santos (118th Congress)
4th	48%	52%	Kathleen Rice (117th Congress)
			Anthony D'Esposito (118th Congress)
5th	75%	25%	Gregory Meeks
6th	57%	43%	Grace Meng
7th	79%	21%	Nydia Velázquez
8th	72%	28%	Hakeem Jeffries
9th	72%	28%	Yvette Clarke
10th	83%	17%	Jerry Nadler (117th Congress)
			Dan Goldman (118th Congress)
11th	37%	63%	Nicole Malliotakis
12th	80%	20%	Carolyn Maloney (117th Congress)
			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)
			Mike Lawler (118th Congress)
18th	51%	49%	Sean Patrick Maloney (117th Congress)
			Pat Ryan (118th Congress)
19th	48%	52%	Pat Ryan (117th Congress)
			Marc Molinaro (118th Congress)
20th	55%	45%	Paul Tonko
21st	39%	61%	Elise Stefanik
22nd	48%	52%	Claudia Tenney (117th Congress)
			Brandon Williams (118th Congress)
23rd	37%	63%	Joe Sempolinski (117th Congress)
			Nick Langworthy (118th Congress)
24th	35%	65%	John Katko (117th Congress)
			Claudia Tenney (118th Congress)
25th	54%	46%	Joseph Morelle
26th	58%	42%	Brian Higgins

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. This poll was sponsored by Neal Kwatra on behalf of an unnamed donor
3. "Not going to vote" with 1%; "Another candidate" with 0%
4. "Not going to vote" with 1%

Partisan clients

1. Poll conducted for Citizens United, a conservative non-profit organization.