New York AG race turns on antisemitism record

New York State Attorney General Letitia James leads her Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy by 15 percentage points in a recent Siena College poll. The survey, conducted last month, shows James at 54 percent and Komatireddy at 39 percent. In the New York City suburbs, the gap narrows to six points. The two candidates are currently trading sharp criticisms over how effectively the state has addressed rising antisemitic violence.

Komatireddy argues that James has ignored the growing threat. She stated that data indicates antisemitic hate crimes are surging in the state with the largest Jewish population in the country. Komatireddy claimed that local district attorneys are ineffective in stopping the trend, leaving the attorney general’s office to fill the void. She said she would declare a state of emergency on antisemitism on her first day in office if elected.

James’s campaign rejects the criticism. A spokesperson said the attorney general has stood with the Jewish community throughout her career. The spokesperson noted that James has prosecuted bad actors who preyed on Jewish New Yorkers and plans to continue that work. James has served as the state’s chief legal officer since 2019, leading an office of more than 700 lawyers.

Prominent Jewish leaders have publicly backed James. Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said he witnessed her commitment firsthand. He pointed to her support for Tsion Cafe, an Ethiopian-Israeli business in Harlem that faced backlash. Treyger said James rearranged her schedule to stand with the owner and followed through personally. Outgoing U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler and City Council Speaker Julie Menin also endorsed James at a press conference last week.

Komatireddy has gained support from some Jewish figures and President Donald Trump. Trump called James corrupt after she sued him over property values. Komatireddy proposed using existing civil rights law to create buffer zones outside Jewish schools and synagogues. She also said she would use a law allowing the attorney general to prosecute hate crimes when district attorneys fail to act. Moshe Davis, a former official in the mayor’s office, predicted her message could cause defections from James’s base.

Not all support for James is uniform within the community. Rabbi Elie Weinstock of the Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach noted a sense of unease among voters. He suggested that voters look for candidates who show they have their backs. Some voters may also be swayed by their feelings toward New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat. Phylisa Wisdom, who leads Mamdani’s office to combat antisemitism, called James a committed advocate for decades.

Komatireddy faced questions about her social media posts last October. She shared photos from a street meeting with a Black Hebrew Israelite church in Rochester. The group has described Jews as imposters. Komatireddy said the meeting was impromptu and that she deleted the post after learning the group’s views. She also posted a video from Park Avenue Synagogue where the rabbi wished her well, though he later clarified he did not formally endorse her.