James received strong backing from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who praised her decades-long record of advocacy and leadership. “For years, you have fought the good fight for New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. “Now it’s our turn to fight for you.” The Queens assemblyman, who won the Democratic nomination for mayor, currently holds a double-digit lead over rivals Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
While neither Cuomo nor Sliwa appeared on the campaign trail Monday, all three candidates issued statements supporting the recent Middle East peace plan and hostage release agreements. The rally itself, however, remained focused on New York’s internal politics — and on James’s determination to remain in office while contesting the charges.
A spokesperson for James confirmed that her reelection campaign has raised nearly $1 million since her indictment, much of it from new donors who view the charges as politically driven. “The attorney general remains focused on serving the people of New York and will vigorously defend herself in court,” the campaign said in a statement.
James is scheduled to make her first appearance before a federal judge in Virginia on October 24. Legal analysts say the case could have major implications for her political career, depending on the pace and outcome of proceedings.
Despite the uncertainty, James’s allies insist that her work and reputation remain intact. “Letitia James has always stood up for what’s right — even when it’s hard,” Mamdani told the crowd. “And we’ll stand with her now, just as she’s stood with us.”
The rally ended with thunderous applause and chants of “James! James! James!” — a clear signal that, at least for now, the embattled attorney general retains powerful grassroots support as she faces the most serious legal and political challenge of her career.