Letitia James secures third term as New York Attorney General
Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor, conceded defeat to incumbent Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday, despite running a competitive campaign. James, a two-term Democrat, celebrated her victory alongside Governor Kathy Hochul and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli at a gathering in Midtown Manhattan.
“We’ve fought for every New Yorker without fear or favor and tonight New Yorkers have told us loud and clear they want Tish James to finish the job,” James stated, addressing supporters.
With 67% of the votes tallied as of 10:35 p.m., James held a commanding lead with 63% of the vote compared to Komatireddy’s 37%.
Komatireddy’s campaign focused on criticizing James for alleged political motivations and a lenient approach to criminal justice, arguing that James had failed to prioritize victims’ rights.
Hochul and DiNapoli also secured easy wins, resulting in a complete Democratic sweep for statewide offices in New York.
James, the first Black woman elected to statewide office in New York, faced scrutiny throughout her campaign, including a whistleblower lawsuit filed by former prosecutor Daniel Wiesenfeld alleging improper targeting of Donald Trump. During a debate, Komatireddy accused James of being a “political hack” for her prosecution against Trump, while James labeled Komatireddy a “Trump puppet.”
Despite a recent Siena University poll showing Komatireddy closing the gap to within six points, James ultimately prevailed, leveraging the Democratic advantage in the state.
James previously served as a public defender and held positions including City Council member representing a Brooklyn district, public advocate, and has been in office since 2018, vowing to challenge Trump. In 2024, her office secured a $360 million civil case against Trump and his associates related to property valuations, a case later upheld on appeal.
Komatireddy, a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and former lecturer at Columbia University Law School, presented herself as a tough-on-crime alternative, emphasizing her experience with the US Attorney’s Office and her clerkship for Judge Brett Kavanaugh. She campaigned alongside crime victims, stating, “In New York today, the reality is, criminals have more of an audience with our elected officials than crime victims.”
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“GOP NY AG candidate Saritha Komatireddy loses spirited campaign against controversial Dem Letitia James”
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