New York Attorney General Letitia James focused heavily on President Trump during a campaign stop in Brooklyn on Sunday, just days before the midterm elections. She was joined by outgoing Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett.
"Congress has neutered themselves," James stated regarding federal legislative power. "Congress, unfortunately, is not in a position right now to basically rein in the excesses of this administration." She emphasized her role, and that of other Democratic attorneys general, in challenging the administration's actions. "We have reined him in against his excesses, against his authoritarian bent," James said.
James highlighted the number of times she has sued the Trump administration and vowed to continue opposing what she described as the president's "illegal and unconstitutional" activities. "We refuse to bow to a king. We refuse to capitulate. We refuse to give in because we believe in democracy," she asserted. "I’m gonna continue to use the law both as a sword and as a shield. And to stand up for the rule of law and for democracy against this chaos. This confusion. And yes, this corruption."
While briefly mentioning the removal of "over 10,000 illegal guns" from the streets, James dedicated the majority of her remarks to criticizing the president and advocating for a return to a pre-Trump era.
Rep. Crockett, who lost her reelection primary and will depart Congress in January, echoed James's anti-Trump sentiment. She spoke about the importance of representation and voting as a means of personal liberation, particularly for minority communities. "Our neighbors have been attacked, simply because of the color of their skin or their accent. Voting has to be personal," Crockett stated.
The event featured performances of "A Change is Gonna Come" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing." This approach mirrored strategies used by other New York Democrats, such as Governor Kathy Hochul, who characterized her opponent as aligned with Donald Trump.
Democrats are seeking to regain support among minority voters, noting a decline in such support in the 2024 election. Recent polling indicates that James leads her Republican challenger, Saritha Komatireddy, by a significant margin, and Hochul leads her opponent, Bruce Blakeman. No Republican has won a statewide election in New York since former Governor George Pataki in 2002.