Diversity Is Not One Party's Property, Says NY Attorney General Challenger
New York, October 27
Indian-American Republican Sarita Komatireddy, who is running against New York Attorney General Letitia James, insists that no single political party has exclusive claim to diversity. She cites Usha Vance, the Indian-American wife of Vice President JD Vance, as proof that the GOP accepts people from varied backgrounds.
In a recent profile, Komatireddy said, "I don't think any one party has a monopoly on diversity." She presents herself as the child of immigrants and says her outlook rests on merit and performance.
The 42-year-old is currently trailing. Her campaign focuses on fighting crime and emphasizes her work as a federal prosecutor.
Fundraising has been one area of progress. Her campaign has brought in more than $1 million since October 9, following the October 8 debate with James. That money has allowed her to put more into television advertising than James's campaign has.
A Siena poll put James ahead, 52 percent to 39 percent, a lead of 13 points. More than 70 percent of likely voters said they had never heard of Komatireddy previously.
A separate internal survey, conducted from October 12 to 14 by a polling firm working for her campaign, showed a far narrower contest. In that poll, James received 50.7 percent and Komatireddy 44.7 percent.
She also announced on Monday that former New York Yankees player Mark Teixeira is backing her bid. Komatireddy wrote on X that she was honored by his support, noting his World Series title, three All-Star appearances, and five Gold Glove awards. She said his lessons about hard work, discipline, and teamwork align with her goal of making New York safer.
Komatireddy wants to more than triple the number of attorneys in the Attorney General's office who pursue criminal matters. At present, fewer than 100 of about 700 lawyers work on criminal cases.
Some critics say this proposal does not accurately reflect the office's responsibilities. Mica Lasher, a Democrat supporting James, said the office's legal powers are largely civil.
Former NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly has endorsed her, saying it is time for a change. Richard Donoghue, a former senior colleague and a former US Attorney for New York, described her as a dependable choice for the most difficult and complex cases.
Komatireddy earned her law degree from Harvard Law School. She clerked for Brett M. Kavanaugh on a federal appeals court and has worked as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York. She also served as chief of staff at the Drug Enforcement Administration.