The 2014 New York Attorney General election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Attorney General of New York. The incumbent Democratic Attorney General Eric Schneiderman won reelection to a second term in office, defeating Republican John P. Cahill. Background Incumbent Democratic attorney general Andrew Cuomo declined to run for reelection in 2010, instead successfully running for Governor. State Senator Eric Schneiderman narrowly won the Democratic primary and then won the general election by a wide margin. In 2014, all statewide offices in New York were held by Democrats. Republicans believed that their best chance of winning a statewide election in 2014 rested on defeating Schneiderman, citing Governor Cuomo's high approval ratings and large campaign war chest and the belief that Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli was unlikely to be vulnerable because "Comptrollers seem to get re-elected as long as they do their jobs." Schneiderman has used his designation as Republicans' "top target" to raise money. Governing did not believe Schneiderman would be defeated in 2014. A March 2013 article listed the 2014 New York attorney general election as "not competitive", citing the high-profile cases Schneiderman had taken on. A December 2013 article rated the race as "Safe Democratic", stating that "Schneiderman should have no problem winning a second term." Democratic primary Candidates Nominated Eric Schneiderman, incumbent attorney general Withdrew Aniello "Neil" Grimaldi (removed from ballot) Republican primary Candidates Nominated John P. Cahill, attorney and former chief of staff for Governor George Pataki Declined Michael A. Battle, former Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and former United States Attorney for the Western District of New York Daniel M. Donovan, Jr., District Attorney of Richmond County and nominee for Attorney General in 2010 Michael J. Garcia, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Randy Mastro, attorney and former chief of staff to Rudy Giuliani Marc Mukasey, attorney and son of former United States Attorney General Michael Mukasey Dennis Vacco, former attorney general Major third parties Besides the Democratic and Republican parties, the Conservative, Green, Independence and Working Families parties all enjoyed automatic ballot access as qualified New York parties in 2014. Conservative Candidates Nominated John P. Cahill, Republican nominee Green Candidates Nominated Ramon Jimenez, attorney from The Bronx Independence Candidates Nominated Eric Schneiderman, incumbent attorney general Working Families Candidates Nominated Eric Schneiderman, incumbent attorney general Minor third parties Any political party other than the