The outlook appears grim for New York’s progressive Attorney General, Letitia James, as a recent poll indicates that her constituents have shifted their support away from her and other left-leaning politicians in the Empire State, including Governor Kathy Hochul, who has been a long-standing adversary of President Trump.
To provide context, a poll released on February 3, 2025, by the Siena Research Institute at Siena College in Loudonville, New York, disclosed that a significant number of New Yorkers now hold a negative view of Attorney General Letitia James, alongside House Minority Leader and New York Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Governor Kathy Hochul. The poll revealed that the attorney general’s approval rating has reached an unprecedented low, with the majority of respondents expressing strong support for the deportation of illegal immigrants who possess criminal records.
In their analysis of the poll’s findings, researchers at Siena College noted that Governor Kathy Hochul’s approval rating is “underwater,” emphasizing that the issues currently prioritized by New Yorkers include “free meals for school children, police presence on nighttime subways, an increase in the child tax credit, and limitations on students’ smartphone usage in educational settings.”
Additionally, the researchers pointed out that Attorney General James enjoys a higher approval rating than Governor Hochul; however, the highest number of surveyed individuals have expressed disapproval of the attorney general. Furthermore, City Journal reported that James’s reelection campaign is “on the ropes” and that she experienced “the worst performance by a winning Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 40 years” during the last election.
Moreover, summarizing the conclusions of the Siena College study, City Journal suggested that James’s campaign may face even greater challenges as polls suggest that the next mayor of New York could be former governor Andrew Cuomo. Additionally, City Journal highlighted the ongoing mortgage scandal involving the attorney general, which revolves around her alleged failure to disclose certain financial interests.
In light of the serious circumstances surrounding her case, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi declared that she had spearheaded the Department of Justice in initiating legal action against AG James and several other notable officials from New York. In her remarks regarding the situation, AG Bondi stated that the DOJ had “filed charges against the state of New York,” further adding, “We have filed charges against Kathy Hochul. We have filed charges against Letitia James and Mark Schroeder, who is associated with DMV.”
Moreover, AG Bondi elaborated that the lawsuit targeting the state of New York was predicated on the enforcement of the “Green Light Laws” within the state, which permit undocumented immigrants to acquire driver’s licenses. The attorney general remarked, “New York has opted to favor illegal aliens over American citizens. This ends today. We took action against Illinois. New York ignored our warnings. Now it is your turn.”
Additionally, Trump’s attorney general indicated that although it was not her intention to litigate against Gov. Hochul and AG James, along with the other individuals named in the lawsuit, it was an essential step to ensure that state officials adhere to federal regulations. Bondi articulated, “We do not wish to sue you. We do not seek to prosecute individuals. Our goal is for everyone to follow the law.”
