Indian American Republican candidate Saritha Komatireddy conceded defeat in the New York attorney general race after losing to incumbent Democrat Letitia James in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Komatireddy, who received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, challenged James for the state’s top legal office. James secured a third term, defeating the former federal prosecutor in a contest that highlighted the role of Indian Americans in the 2026 midterm elections.
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With 86% of the votes counted, James was leading with 60.2% against Komatireddy’s 39.8%, according to WAMC Northeast Public Radio. The results remained unofficial as additional ballots were being counted.
In a statement posted on X, Komatireddy thanked the volunteers and supporters who backed her campaign. “I am deeply grateful to the thousands of volunteers, supporters, and everyday New Yorkers who believed in our campaign and our vision for a safer and stronger New York. I’m proud of the campaign we ran,” she said.
She also said her campaign demonstrated that politics did not have to be defined by division and hate, but could bring people together.
“Ultimately, that’s what public office is about – public service means serving people, not celebrity or personal gain. Whatever I do moving forward will be about exactly that – serving others and making New York safer,” Komatireddy said.
A former federal prosecutor, Komatireddy graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. She previously served as a law clerk to Brett Kavanaugh when he was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She is also a partner at Holtzman Vogel and teaches at Columbia Law School, according to FOX 5 New York.
During the campaign, Komatireddy criticized James over public safety, bail reform and the handling of investigations, presenting herself as an alternative focused on law enforcement and government accountability.
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James, who first won the attorney general’s office in 2018, campaigned on her record of consumer protection, civil rights enforcement and legal challenges to the Trump administration.
Komatireddy’s defeat came as Indian American candidates featured prominently in races across the country. While some Indian American Democrats secured reelection or won new seats, several prominent Republicans backed by Trump also lost their contests.