AG Letitia James schedules high-priced Manhattan fundraiser

New York Attorney General Letitia James has scheduled a high-priced fundraiser Monday as her potential run for governor hovers over the 2022 campaign.

The private event in Manhattan is billed as benefiting James’ reelection as state attorney general. But the ticket prices — $10,000 to be considered a "co-host," $25,000 to be a "chair" — fed speculation James might jump into the race against Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"You don’t ask for $25,000 if you are running for AG," said one Democratic insider who received an invitation.

James’ potential candidacy is the biggest question right now in Democratic political circles, some say. Her decision will impact other potential gubernatorial candidates as well as down-ballot contests.

"I think there’s a growing expectation that she is going to enter the governor’s race," said Marist College pollster Lee Miringoff, adding that it will affect the dynamics one way or another.

"What she does will reverberate throughout the primary season," Miringoff said. "Others will have to make a decision about how, and if, they would run."

James recently told some upstate Democrats she’d be making a decision soon. Other Democrats mentioned as potential candidates include Rep. Tom Suozzi of Glen Cove, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.

Meanwhile, Hochul, who took over as governor just seven weeks ago following Andrew M. Cuomo’s resignation, announced three more endorsements from Democratic county chairs in Albany, Rochester and Syracuse.

Following the lead of state Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs, Jake Crawford of Albany County, Zach King of Monroe County and Pamela Hunter of Onondaga County all said it was "time for our party to unite."

"Governor Hochul’s extensive experience at all levels of government — from town board to county clerk to United States House of Representatives, and to becoming the first woman to serve as governor of the Empire State — has given her a deep understanding of the needs of all New Yorkers," Crawford, King and Hunter said in a joint statement.

Hochul took further steps this week to potentially build up support.

She received the endorsement of EMILY’s List, an activist and fundraising group dedicated to electing women. She met with and apologized to families who lost loved ones in nursing homes to COVID-19 — families who have been loudly critical of the Cuomo administration's nursing home policies.

And Hochul announced the state wouldn’t contest the latest in a series of lawsuits over school funding, even reaching out to Cynthia Nixon, the actress who made school funding the key of her 2018 primary challenge against Cuomo.

"She’s made many right moves since becoming governor and the proof is in the numbers we saw," Miringoff said, referring to a recent poll showing strong favorability numbers for Hochul. "She’s a force to be reckoned with among Democrats."