President Donald Trump threw his “complete and total endorsement” behind Republican Saritha Komatireddy on Friday in her bid to unseat New York Attorney General Letitia James, marking a significant escalation in his years-long feud with the Democratic incumbent.
Trump announced the endorsement in a Truth Social post, praising Komatireddy as an “America First Patriot” and contrasting her with James, whom he called “the Most Corrupt Attorney General in the Country.” The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor and current partner at law firm Holtzman Vogel, brings decades of experience in law enforcement. She clerked for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the U.S. Court of Appeals before his appointment to the Supreme Court, served as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York for over a decade, and held the position of Drug Enforcement Administration chief of staff. She graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where she served on the Harvard Law Review.
Trump previously nominated Komatireddy to serve as a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in 2020, though that nomination did not advance. In his endorsement statement, Trump touted her qualifications, saying she would “fight tirelessly to Ensure LAW AND ORDER, Grow our Economy, Champion our Law Enforcement and First Responders” as attorney general.
The endorsement intensifies Trump’s long-standing conflict with James, who brought a major civil fraud case against Trump and the Trump Organization in 2022. That lawsuit accused Trump of fraudulently inflating asset values to obtain favorable loans; an appeals court later wiped out the nearly $465 million financial penalty against Trump, ruling the disgorgement award violated the Constitution’s prohibition on excessive fines. Trump has continued pressing for James to face prosecution over mortgage fraud allegations, adding another dimension to their contentious relationship that dates back to his first term in office.
Komatireddy responded to Trump’s endorsement on X, writing: “I was honored to be nominated to be a federal judge by the President in 2020 and I’m honored to receive his endorsement today. I’m working hard to win the support of all New Yorkers and defeat Letitia James this November.”
Trump’s track record with endorsements has been exceptionally strong in Republican primaries. According to a White House official cited by Politico, Trump has maintained a 98 percent success rate in 238 primary endorsements as of mid-August 2026, with 233 wins. However, Trump’s primary endorsement losses have mounted as several of his backed candidates have fallen in races, signaling potential limits to his influence as candidates move into general election contests where broader voter coalitions come into play.
The New York attorney general race represents one of Trump’s most personal political investments, given his antagonistic relationship with the incumbent. James, a Democrat first elected in 2018, has been a persistent Trump critic and adversary. Trump’s backing of Komatireddy underscores his commitment to replacing officials he views as hostile to his interests and agenda.
Sources
- New York Post — Trump’s endorsement statement, Komatireddy’s background, and the history of Trump’s conflict with Letitia James
- Politico — Trump’s 2026 endorsement success rate and record
- Ballotpedia — Information on the 2026 New York Attorney General race and election date
- Holtzman Vogel — Komatireddy’s professional background and experience
