Democrat Letitia James, 59, made history last night by becoming the first woman, and the first woman of color, in New York State history to get elected state attorney general in defeating Republican Keith Wofford.
James, Brooklyn born and raised, is the former city council woman from Fort Greene/Clinton Hill and currently serves as the city’s public advocate.
According to the unofficial results with about 98% of the vote counted, James received 62.2 % or 3,404,379 votes to her Republican opponent Keith Wofford, who received 35.5% or 1,942,142 votes, while three minor party candidates received the remaining 2.3% of the vote.
“Tonight is a night for justice and for our future. These elections are never about the candidate. They are always about the voters and the volunteers and the people of this great state and the just future we are building together,” said James at her victory speech before several hundred raucous supporters at the Milk River Bar on Atlantic Avenue in James’ home district on the Prospect Heights/Clinton Hill border.
James vowed as attorney general she will fight day and night to earn keep the trust of voters who chose her at the ballot box.
“And if I wasn’t your choice I see it as my democratic duty to earn your trust. Though we don’t agree on a whole lot we can all agree the politics of today is too harsh. There’s a difference between campaigning and governing and real leadership is never easy, but this race is over and our collective fight for progress moves a new,” she said.
James vowed as attorney general she will protect the rights of women, immigrants, the LGBT community, working class people, communities of color and everybody that doesn’t feel they have a voice.
James also vowed to root out corruption in government everywhere including in Albany and New York City regardless of party affiliation, “I will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law so let this be a fair warning to all of those in high places who think they are above the law,” she said.
But James voiced special contempt for ‘that man in the oval office,” calling President Donald Trump a fearmonerer and carnival barker, and vowed to shine a bright light into every dark corner of every one of his real estate dealings.
James win was part of a Democratic Party clean sweep of statewide offices as Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. were all easily re-elected. The blue wave of Democrats also saw the party convincingly take back the state senate majority.
James’ win also opens up what is expected to be a spirited special election for her Public Advocates seat. City Councilman Jumaane Williams (D-Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) and Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake have already announced their intentions to run for the seat and several other elected officials and former elected officials are also expected to jthrow their hat in the ring.
