Attorney General Letitia James' expected announcement in the coming days that she will run for governor won't surprise many in New York's political world — even those who weren't clued in on her plans to do so.

Progressive advocates and union leaders have been told in recent days by aides to James that she intends to get into the race. But one person not told was state Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, who has thrown his early support to Gov. Kathy Hochul's election to a full term.

“Certainly that’s her decision to make," Jacobs said of James' pending bid. "She’s done a great job as attorney general. I was hoping she would stay in that position, but certainly, she makes it an interesting primary — if she runs.”

While it's not a shock James is running, it's nevertheless expected to upend New York politics again, an already unsettled scene following the resignation of Gov. Andrew Cuomo in August amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct compiled in a report released that month by James' office.

James, a former member of the New York City Council who had previously served as public advocate, can claim a number of early advantages. That includes a Brooklyn political base that is currently flexing its muscle with the likely election of Eric Adams to the mayor's office. She has long-standing ties to the progressive Working Families Party.

And her candidacy would be history-making: Were she to win, James would be the first Black woman to serve as governor of any state in the country.

Expect more eruptions, too, from Team Cuomo after his aides said James' political ambition had tilted the report against the former governor -- an allegation James denied, no less than in a speech several weeks ago to a monied group of former Cuomo supporters.

The scant and way-too-early polling so far has shown Hochul leading James in a head-to-head campaign, as well as a field that includes current public advocate Jumaane Williams, who has also filed with state elections officials to run for governor.

More candidates could enter the field in the coming weeks. Rep. Tom Suozzi, a Long Island Democrat, could make a second run for governor. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, leaving due to term limits at the end of the year, has also not ruled out a campaign.

Which candidate can get which bloc of voters is increasingly a question of how thin one can slice New York's electorate. Hochul is likely to play strong in western New York and Erie County. Suozzi wants to rebuild a similar coalition Cuomo enjoyed: older Black voters who opposed slogans like "defund the police" while running strong in vote-rich Long Island, and peel off enough upstate support.

Hochul, too, has the advantage of an incumbent, especially if the state budget season includes enough money to potentially retain support from key special interests and labor officials -- or at least on the sidelines through the winter and early spring.

The gubernatorial primary is shaping up to be one of the more competitive races for the office in a generation, a contest not seen since Cuomo in 2002 challenged Carl McCall, or in 1982, when Mario Cuomo and Ed Koch faced off.

But this could very well be different, pitting New York's Democratic political establishment of advocates, labor union officials and business leaders, long locked up by Cuomo's decade-long tenure, against itself.

Already, the political and advocacy establishment is working to adjust to the accelerated primary calendar. Hochul was scheduled to speak last night to the group Eleanor's Legacy at its gala. The organization subsequently sent a second invitation highlighting James' participation in the event as well.

Or at least that's the concern for Jacobs, who had endorsed the incumbent slate for re-election on the Democratic side out of a bid at unity.

"I'm always concerned about friction within the party," he said. "However, everyone has a right to run a primary if they want."