The Republican challenger to New York Attorney General Letitia James accuses her of poor judgment for publicly backing and embracing socialist mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani, arguing her alliance puts everyday New Yorkers at risk and shows a troubling priority shift for the attorney general’s office.
Michael Henry pointed to James’s long history of aligning with the far left and highlighted past campaign choices to explain why her support for Mamdani is not surprising. “That association is not a surprise, because when she first ran for the New York City Council in New York City, she ran on the Working Family Party line because the Democrat party wouldn’t endorse her, she’s been a supporter of cashless her whole political career,” Michael Henry told Fox News Digital about James’s endorsement and association with Mamdani.
Henry also referenced a recent rally where James stood with Mamdani’s backers after she was indicted, quoting her direct, defiant line to the crowd. James told the crowd, “You come for me? You gonna come to all of us!” and Henry says that embrace speaks volumes about her priorities.
Calling James “out of touch,” Henry warned that her closeness to Mamdani, a candidate many have labeled a communist, could be a long-term liability for the state. He fears voters will judge her for cozying up to a figure he describes as unprepared for practical leadership and disconnected from everyday responsibilities.
Henry did not hold back when describing Mamdani’s fitness for office, questioning whether a candidate with no steady work history could handle true crises. “She introduced him on election night, she says it’s her brother, she owns him and, you know something she’s jeopardizing the people of state of New York because, forget about the fact the kids an anti-semite and a communist he’s never had a job he’s never showed up five days a week to a real job, I will tell you, when there’s a blizzard, you’ve got to get the sanitation trucks out, when there is a structural collapse, there’s serious fire, there is civil unrest and the police are dealing with an uprising, maybe with rioters or some kind of confrontation, does anybody think this kid and his practice smile and his word salad is going to be able to handle those situations?” he asked.
“He’s not a serious person. He’s a failed actor,” Henry added, making clear he thinks Mamdani lacks the temperament and experience required for leadership in a city as complex as New York. Those are sharp accusations aimed at drawing a contrast between what Henry calls practical governance and what he sees as performative politics.
At the same time, local institutions and figures have pushed back against Mamdani’s campaign imagery, prompting headlines and public debate about his brand and endorsements. KNICKS SEND CEASE-AND-DESIST TO MAMDANI OVER LOGO USE, SAY THEY ‘WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR’ THEY DON’T ENDORSE HIM highlights how even cultural touchstones have been pulled into the political fray.
Another piece of the backdrop is a high-profile political rivalry around the city’s mayoral contest and how state-level figures get involved. CURTIS SLIWA VOWS TO BE ZOHRAN MAMDANI’S ‘WORST NIGHTMARE’ IF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST WINS NYC MAYORAL RACE underlines the combustible mix of personalities and the way opposition leaders are already positioning themselves for a potential Mamdani victory.
Henry, who ran against James in 2020 and won a significant share for a Republican, says New Yorkers need an “outsider” who is not intimidated by the attorney general’s office. He told Fox News Digital New Yorkers need an “outsider” candidate who has “no fear of Letitia James at all.”
He argues James wakes up focused on high-profile legal fights and partisan targets instead of the day-to-day problems families face. “Look, let’s be honest, she wakes up every day focused on three things: targeting the President of the United States, weaponizing her office against political opponents, and ignoring the issues that matter most to hardworking families,” Henry explained.
For Henry, the office should serve the people rather than party politics, and he warns that James has forgotten that role. “And she’s forgotten that the New York state attorney general is the people’s lawyer, and it’s not the enforcer for the Democrat National Committee,” he said, framing his challenge as a return to practical priorities and accountable leadership.
Darnell Thompkins is a conservative opinion writer from Atlanta, GA, known for his insightful commentary on politics, culture, and community issues. With a passion for championing traditional values and personal responsibility, Darnell brings a thoughtful Southern perspective to the national conversation. His writing aims to inspire meaningful dialogue and advocate for policies that strengthen families and empower individuals.