Zephyr Teachout is stepping down as Cynthia Nixon’s campaign treasurer so she can run for state attorney general.
In an earlier email pitch to state Democrats, Teachout said she was running for AG because New York needs “an independent voice for the people” — which critics promptly pointed out didn’t align with her role as the treasurer in a campaign for governor.
Teachout’s entry into the AG’s race leaves the Working Families Party, which is holding its nominating convention in Harlem on Saturday, with a tough decision.
The leading Democratic candidate for the nomination is Public Advocate Letitia James.
But she is refusing the WFP line in hopes of landing the nomination from the Democratic Party, which holds its convention Wednesday.
The WFP is considering leaving its AG line blank or nominating a placeholder to avoid a situation where the Democratic Party and the WFP have different candidates on the ballot — thus splitting the vote and giving a Republican a better shot at winning the office.
There’s an opening for AG because two-term incumbent Eric Schneiderman abruptly resigned last week when a New Yorker magazine article revealed that four women accused him of assault. He has denied the charges.