• Keith H. Wofford is vying to be the Republican Party's attorney general candidate.
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Keith H. Wofford is vying to be the Republican Party's attorney general candidate.

Keith H. Wofford is vying to be the Republican Party's attorney general candidate.

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New York attorney Manny Alicandro formally announces his campaign for Attorney General at the Capitol on Monday May 7, 2018 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
New York attorney Manny Alicandro formally announces his campaign for Attorney General at the Capitol on Monday May 7, 2018 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
Photo: Lori Van Buren, Albany Times Union
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New York City Public Advocate Letitia James
New York City Public Advocate Letitia James
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Acting- AG Barbara Underwood is interviewed by the State Legislature's interview committee for an appointment as state attorney general Tuesday May 15, 2018 in Albany, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale/Times Union)
Acting- AG Barbara Underwood is interviewed by the State Legislature's interview committee for an appointment as state attorney general Tuesday May 15, 2018 in Albany, NY. (John Carl D'Annibale/Times Union)
Photo: John Carl D'Annibale
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FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2010 file photo, New York Attorney General-elect Eric Schneiderman gestures while giving his victory speech just past midnight in New York. A New York lawyer said he told President Donald Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen, years ago that Schneiderman was abusing women. Schneiderman, a frequent legal nemesis of the president, resigned this week after The New Yorker published the accounts of four women who said they were slapped and choked by the Democrat. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) less
FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2010 file photo, New York Attorney General-elect Eric Schneiderman gestures while giving his victory speech just past midnight in New York. A New York lawyer said he told President Donald ... more
Photo: Frank Franklin II
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ALBANY - A New York City attorney is joining the race for the Republican Party's attorney general nomination.

In advance of this week's state Republican Party Committee convention, Keith Wofford announced Tuesday that he will seek the Republican and Conservative lines for November. He joins one other Republican hopeful, Manny Alicandro, a corporate Manhattan attorney, who launched his campaign earlier this month.

"Having served in private practice for nearly twenty-five years, it's clear that New York state is broken," Wofford said in a statement. "We cannot afford to elect another career politician who will only use this office to further their own political ambitions rather than serve the interests of the people of this great state."

Wofford was raised in Buffalo and graduated from Harvard Law School, according to a release. He is a co-managing partner at Ropes & Gray's New York City office.

"As attorney general, my top priority will be to tackle the political corruption - both legal and illegal - that have plagued our state government for too long," Wofford said. "I will put an end to it by going after public corruption wherever it leads and bring charges against those who violate the public trust, regardless of their title."

Republicans are scheduled to nominate an attorney general candidate at their two-day convention, which begins Wednesday. If Wofford doesn't emerge with the support of the state party, he can get on the primary ballot through the petitioning process that begins in two weeks.

"We have a lot of work to do if we are going to turn our state around and we need someone who is serious about doing it," he said. "Over the next few days and weeks, I look forward to making my case to party leaders and earning their support for my candidacy."

Alicandro said on Tuesday in a statement that he is prepared for a primary campaign.

"I have traveled the state from Erie County to Suffolk County and my message of shaking up the status quo is resonating," he said. "Nothing that has happened since I began this mission has changed the fact that Albany's culture of corruption is hurting New Yorkers."

New York City Public Advocate Letitia James is expected to emerge with the Democratic Party's support after their two-day convention this week.

On Tuesday afternoon, the state Legislature is scheduled to appoint acting state Attorney General Barbara Underwood to finish out the term of Eric Schneiderman, who resigned the post two weeks ago.