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%, a massive underperformance 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.

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)

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.

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

Official designee

 * Michael Henry, attorney

Polling

 * Graphical summary


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