While voters across several states were left feeling defeated by Tuesday's election results, New York made history by electing the first Black person and first woman of color into one of its state offices.
With more than 81 percent of precincts reporting voting results just after midnight Wednesday morning, Letitia "Tish" James bested Republican opponent Keith Wofford by a staggering 59.7—34.3 margin.
Long before cruising to history on Tuesday, the Brooklyn native had already reached a monumental accomplishment by becoming the first Black woman elected to a citywide office in 2003.
The seat became vacant after former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman resigned earlier this year following four women accusing him of sexual assault.
James, 60, spoke with Ebony late last month about her decision to run for one of the state's highest offices.
"I had set my eyes on running for mayor in 2021. That was the plan, but then things changed," she said. "As I traveled and spoke to individuals throughout the city, including my neighbors, [there] was just this fierce urgency of now, particularly since my immigrant neighbors were under attack, hiding in the shadows of government. The voices of a number of my former law professors who talked about civil rights and the training we received at Howard University were cemented in my mind."
In her acceptance speech on Tuesday night, James vowed to probe into President Donald Trump's real estate sales, holding him accountable for any malpractice.
"New Yorkers, we can spot a con man," James said to an enthusiastic crowd in Brooklyn. "We can spot a carnival barker. I will shine a light into every dark corner of his real estate dealings and every dealing."
James' historic win is yet another accomplishment to add in the ever-growing encyclopedia of #BlackGirlMagic. Congratulations, Attorney General James!
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