Zephyr Teachout Launches Bid for New York Attorney General

BROOKLYN, NY (11/15/2021) (readMedia)-- On Monday, Zephyr Teachout launched her bid for New York Attorney General at the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Municipal Building in Brooklyn. Teachout, a nationally renown constitutional law expert and activist, entered the race for the state's top law enforcement position with key endorsements from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig, environmental activist Bill McKibben, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, Assemblymembers Ron Kim, Emily Gallagher, Anna Kelles, Phil Steck, former public defender Alana Sivin and other elected officials from 10 counties total across New York State.

Watch the announcement here.

Check out her website here.

"The job of the Attorney General is to use the awesome powers of the office to get things done for people. New Yorkers know I don't back down from the hard fights, and I'm ready to go after corrupt politicians and corporations that abuse their power and the planet. Justice means one set of rules regardless of who you are or where you come from, and we need someone with the independence, integrity and expertise to deliver on that promise. That's why I'm running for Attorney General," said Zephyr Teachout.

"I have known Zephyr Teachout for a long time and admire her brains, creativity and moral backbone. New Yorkers deserve a courageous and compassionate leader like Zephyr who will use her unparalleled expertise to push us closer to one system of justice, where we hold abusive corporations accountable, rather than just throwing more kids in cages," said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

"Zephyr Teachout is not just one of America's bravest and most passionate politicians, she is also the Democratic party's most important thinker. No other candidate in the party - for any office, anywhere - has demonstrated through their writing and speaking a clearer vision for a progressive Democratic future that is both right and true. She has not just told us what we all know we want to hear, she has help us understand. Everything she has written has shown me more than I understood before. There is not any other person in politics that I would say that of, not now or at anytime before," said Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig.

"Forget 'progessive' or 'conservative.' Zephyr's long record makes it clear she would stand up to the huge forces -- from Exxon to Facebook -- that are eroding the society we've spent decades building. The law is sometimes the only force that can rein in those with way too much power; in this increasingly unfair world we desperately need that protection," said environmental activist Bill McKibben.

"New York is at a pivotal moment, and we need an Attorney General who will be a true champion of the people-a leader willing to challenge powerful interests and corrupt Albany politicians. I am proud to endorse Zephyr Teachout because at her core she's a fighter, with a proven record of taking on big pharma, big oil, and big tech companies on behalf of everyday New Yorkers. I look forward to working alongside Zephyr to ensure New Yorkers in every corner of our state have affordable housing and broadband, clean air and water, and good-paying jobs," said Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan.

"Now, more than ever, New Yorkers need Zephyr Teachout as Attorney General. She is an independent leader--a true visionary--who will root out corporate corruption from our government. There is no greater example of how this garish corruption played out than by acknowledging the facts behind the nursing home scandal. Those close to power enriched themselves by raiding the public purse and denying care while thousands of families mourned their loved ones and watched nursing home executives walk free from liability. Zephyr is the kind of leader who will never back down from holding unscrupulous actors accountable and will always prioritized the health and safety of New Yorkers. I trust Zephyr, you should trust Zephyr. It is an honor supporting her to become the next Attorney General of New York," said Assembly Member Ron Kim.

"Zephyr knows we need one system of justice in New York, not one for the wealthy and powerful, and one for everyone else. We know she won't back down from holding tech giants or white collar criminals accountable - and it doesn't hurt that she's an expert either. She's a visionary who will use the Attorney General's office to deliver justice for all New Yorkers," said Assembly Member Emily Gallagher.

"Zephyr Teachout is a steadfast champion for justice who will take on polluters, political corruption and corporate greed with equal zeal. New York needs a proven warrior willing to use the full force of the Attorney General's office for equity and justice for all New Yorkers, and there is no one more qualified or committed than Zephyr," said Assembly Member Anna Kelles.

"We need an attorney general who is willing to use all the tools, be very aggressive, and just can't be bought by special interests - and that's Zephyr Teachout. With her hard-won expertise in constitutional and business law, she'll fight for New Yorkers against the corporations and politicians abusing their power," said Assembly Member Phil Steck.

Teachout also announced endorsements from Mayors Steve Noble of Kingston, Tim Rogers of New Paltz, Kamal Johnson of Hudson and Svante Myrick of Ithaca, members of the Ulster County Young Democrats and the Ulster County Democratic Committee, Woodstock Councilmember Bennett Radcliffe and New Paltz Town Supervisor Neil Bettez.

"Zephyr Teachout is the Attorney General New York deserves. A champion for the people, she'll fight for a recovery that focuses on small businesses, will go after officials who break the public's trust, and will steadfastly protect our democracy. This moment demands a dynamic leader like Zephyr who's got the expertise and passion to deliver for all New Yorkers," said Kingston Mayor Steve Noble.

"New Yorkers have been waiting for a leader like Zephyr Teachout. She's unimpeachably honest and just can't be bought. Always the first to call out injustice where she sees it, Zephyr will use the full force of the office to take on corrupt politicians and corporations that put profits before the planet, and use their power to abuse working people. We need someone fearless, with a proven record of taking on the big fights and that's Zephyr," said New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers.

"Zephyr Teachout knows the state better than anyone. Independent, honest and fearless, we can trust her to always put people first and take on the hard fights. Whether it's protecting New Yorkers from Big Pharma, bad landlords or anti-democratic forces trying to strip our voting rights, Zephyr is ready to take on these fights and win. She's exactly the kind of leadership the Hudson Valley wants and needs at the state level," said Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson.

"I'm proud to endorse Zephyr Teachout for Attorney General of New York. She's a proven fighter who's unafraid to take on power, whether it's boldly cleaning up corruption in Albany, taking on the fracking industry, or Big Pharma and Big Tech for putting profits over people. We need a fearless Attorney General with guts, and there's no one who can match the one and only Zephyr Teachout," said Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick.

"Unbought, unbossed and determined, we need more leaders like Zephyr Teachout at every level of government. Zephyr knows it's not just enough to fight back against climate change, but we have to deliver justice for the Black and brown communities who have borne the disproportionate impact of pollution. A champion for working people, she has the passion and knowledge to take on big fights - and win," said Albany County Legislator Merton Simpson.

"Zephyr Teachout knows about New York and New York people! We need leaders like Teachout, who is not afraid to step up to the forces of Big AG or Big Pharma that harm New Yorkers every day. Nor is she afraid to stand up for tenants and housing as it becomes a dire issue in the Hudson Valley! We need Zephyr Teachout for Attorney General," said Tiffany Garriga Common Council, City of Hudson, New York.

"Zephyr Teachout has led the movement for change in New York State. Without her, it's hard to imagine we would have banned fracking, or uncover the corruption of the State's crony-driven economic development schemes. Whether it's against Big Tech, Big Ag or Big Pharma, Zephyr will use the full force of the office to fight for working New Yorkers," said Rochester City Council Member Mary Lupien.

"In New York, we like to think we're leading on civil rights, but you don't have to look far beyond the inhumanity of Rikers or the money being spent defeating common-sense voting rights to know that's a misnomer, especially for Black and brown New Yorkers. We need an Attorney General who is zealous, knowledgeable and above all, ready to fight against the anti-democratic forces at work - and that's Zephyr Teachout," said Jasi Robinson, 61st Assembly District Leader.

"Zephyr is exactly who we need as New York's next Attorney General: A brilliant, adept, and brave champion who will remain unbought and accountable to every New Yorker, especially those who've been most marginalized by corruption and abuse. From investigating the Wall Street players behind Puerto Rico's debt crisis to bringing transparency to the ways in which legislation moves in Albany, Zephyr knows how to harness the power of the attorney general's office. I'm thrilled to support her," said Alana Sivin, public defender and candidate for State Senate District 26.

"From her early work as a death penalty attorney to her ongoing defense of New York's pretrial reforms, Zephyr Teachout's has spent her career championing criminal justice reform. As with all of the issues she fights for, Zephyr's commitment to bringing fairness to our legal system is deeply principled, and will not be shaken by our current fear-driven political climate - exactly what we need in our next Attorney General," said Janos Marton, National Director, Dream Corps JUSTICE.

Endorsements (more to come):

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison

Environmental activist Bill McKibben

Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan

Assembly Member Ron Kim

Assembly Member Emily Gallagher

Assembly Member Anna Kelles

Assembly Member Phil Steck

Kingston Mayor Steve Noble

New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers

Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick

Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson

Hudson Common Council Member Tiffany Garriga

UC Young Dems Michael Tierney

UC Leg Abe Uchetelle

UC Leg Eve Walter

Ulster County Dems Vice Chair & NYS Committee Member Jeff Collins

NYS Dem Committee Member Bill Barr

NYS Dem Committee Member Nejla Liias

Woodstock Councilmember Bennett Radcliffe

New Paltz Village Trustee Bill Murray

New Paltz Town Supervisor Neil Bettez

New Paltz Deputy Supervisor Dan Torres

Albany County Legislator Merton Simpson

Rochester City Council Member Mary Lupien

61st Assembly District Leader Jasi Robinson

Public Defender and Candidate for State Senate District 26 Alana Sivin

National Director, Dream Corps JUSTICE Janos Marton

Zenaida Mendez, former President of NOW-NYS

Johana Garcia, Community Leader

Justin Krebs, Community Leader

Brandon West, Community Leader

About Zephyr Teachout

Zephyr Teachout is a nationally recognized constitutional law expert, anti-corruption activist, and the leading voice against big corporate monopolies threatening democracy, equity, and human dignity. Growing up in a small, rural community she learned respect for the land and people she disagreed with, but to never back down from a hard fight. A Professor at Fordham Law, she lives with her husband Nick, a public school science teacher and their 3 year old son in Manhattan where her 25 year old step-daughter visits them.