Patterico's Pontifications

12/9/2021

Letitia James Suspends Her Campaign for NY Governor

Filed under: General — JVW @ 1:04 pm



[guest post by JVW]

A very interesting announcement came out earlier today: New York Attorney General Letitia James (I just learned for the first time that she goes by “Tish”), who after bringing down the fiendishly corrupt and awful former Empire State governor and his dimwit brother was seen as a darling of progressives and a formidable candidate to replace him (Andy the Asshole, that is), announced earlier today that she would end her campaign for governor and instead seek reelection as attorney general. Here is what she told us:

This seems like very odd timing indeed, coming at a moment in which she is probably riding as high in public esteem as she ever will. So let’s speculate on some possible reasons why she has decided to keep her powder dry and likely coast to reelection as AG next year:

1) She has concerns about running in a primary against a fellow female (albeit white) Democrat who can be seen as the pseudo-incumbent having replaced the execrable Cuomo (again, we’re talking about Andy the Asshole, not brother Fredo even though the adjective fits him too), and worried that it could cause a fissure among Democrats in what is shaping up to be a challenging year for the party.

2) Along those lines, perhaps she and her advisors believe Democrats might be in big trouble next year and that a GOP tide could conceivably seep into the governor’s mansion in Albany. They might be nervously reminiscing about George Pataki in 1994, and are struck with an uneasy feeling that this could be history repeating itself.

3) She worries that her record as AG, despite the Cuomo scalps and despite her dogged pursuit of one Donald J. Trump, might not match the mood of next year’s electorate. As an avowed progressive, she might not want to spend next spring, summer, and fall defending her past support for bail reform, sentencing reform, less-aggressive policing, and other items which have become key issues both in New York State and across the nation. Better to run again as AG and focus on the trophies stuffed and mounted on her wall rather than explain to voters what she would propose as governor to restore law and order along with public safety.

4) There is some sort of scandal in which she is caught up at least partially or perhaps even fully which could possibly rear its ugly head come next year. I mean, this is New York and these are Democrats after all, so there’s always a high probability at any given moment that this is true.

In any case, one more data point for the supposition that even the best-situated Democrats are nervous about what is in store for them next November.

– JVW

12 Responses to “Letitia James Suspends Her Campaign for NY Governor”

  1. In other great news, the thuggish Cuomo acolyte who headed up the SUNY system was forced to resign his position today:

    State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras tendered his resignation on Thursday amid backlash over text messages he sent mocking a woman who went on to accuse former Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment.

    Malatras announced his resignation, which takes effect on January 14, in a letter to the chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees.

    [. . .]

    The resignation comes after a text exchange between Malatras and other Cuomo allies was released along with other transcripts and evidence from New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo.

    He sent texts mocking Lindsey Boylan, who later became the first woman to publicly accuse Cuomo.

    Boylan, who served as the deputy secretary for economic development and special adviser to the governor, tweeted in 2019 that working in politics was a “toxic and demoralizing experience” after leaving the administration. The tweet came before she publicly accused Cuomo of sexual harassment.

    “Let’s release some of her cray emails,” Malatras said to the group in response to the tweet.

    “Malatras to Boylan: Go f__ yourself,” he texted the group after Boylan posted a series of tweets that were critical of him.

    On Friday, Malatras said he owed Boylan and the SUNY community an apology, though Boylan later tweeted that she had not received one.

    A day in which another Cuomo ally is sent packing and a committed leftist determines that this isn’t year to try for executive office? What a lovely day indeed!

    JVW (ee64e4) — 12/9/2021 @ 1:09 pm

  2. Great post, JVW. Thanks.

    felipe (484255) — 12/9/2021 @ 1:10 pm

  3. Hocul comes from upstate ny giving her votes that might otherwise not go to democrat also she is non threatening to the corrupt democrats as a progressive would be.

    asset (e5e763) — 12/9/2021 @ 2:14 pm

  4. Hocul comes from upstate ny giving her votes that might otherwise not go to democrat. . .

    Yes. I didn’t include this, but I wonder if the James braintrust is also thinking that 2022 won’t be a good year to be associated with the disgusting sewer that is the New York City Democrat machine, and that running an upstate politician is a way better idea.

    JVW (ee64e4) — 12/9/2021 @ 2:27 pm

  5. Smollett jury reaches verdict.

    “Stand by for action.” – Jeff Tracy [Peter Dyneley] ‘Thunderbirds’ 1964-66, ITV

    DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/9/2021 @ 2:39 pm

  6. I just saw a Tweet from Ed Morrisey suggesting that Smollett has been acquitted.

    Edit: Oh wait, no. I misread it.

    JVW (ee64e4) — 12/9/2021 @ 2:47 pm

  7. “It feels really good to be wrong. You get better at it.” – Greg Gutfeld ‘The Five’ 12/9/21

    Yes. He really said that.

    DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/9/2021 @ 2:50 pm

  8. The democrats will execute the best end around play in the business. Republicans are water boys.

    mg (8cbc69) — 12/9/2021 @ 2:57 pm

  9. Interesting analysis from Dan McLaughlin.

    This has a couple of ripple effects. James is still the biggest progressive heavyweight in the state, which means that the next plausible opening for major statewide office could go to her rather than to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Democratic primary now reshuffles: Congressman Tom Suozzi (the former Nassau County executive) will be running against Hochul from the right, but Hochul may not end up fighting a serious two-front war. There are still two possible progressive challengers. Jumaane Williams, the New York City Public Advocate who lost the 2018 primary for lieutenant governor to Hochul, jumped into the race in mid November. It also remains to be seen if outgoing New York City mayor Bill de Blasio follows through on his threat to run. Even that may not matter much, given that de Blasio is a laughingstock even in New York City, let alone statewide. If Hochul is able to secure her left flank, one wonders if Suozzi gets cold feet, too, but he may simply be banking on an anti-incumbent mood of voters frustrated with Hochul’s own Covid policies by the time the primary rolls around.

    JVW (ee64e4) — 12/9/2021 @ 3:26 pm

  10. Or, maybe she just wants to be the first prosecutor to send a former president to prison.

    Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/9/2021 @ 8:06 pm

  11. If it’s Zeldin – Suozzi, it’s the battle of Long Island

    urbanleftbehind (c073c9) — 12/9/2021 @ 9:01 pm

  12. She was too successful in getting rid of Cuomo. And Kathy Hochul turned out to a be a formidable candidate. (raising money) And if she runs for Gov she could lose it all.

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146) — 12/10/2021 @ 12:29 pm


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