Jewish leaders defend James as challenger questions her antisemitism record

New York Attorney General Letitia James is drawing support from prominent Jewish leaders as Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy criticizes her handling of antisemitism ahead of Tuesday’s election. The contest has brought competing arguments about enforcement and community support in the state with the country’s largest Jewish population.

Komatireddy, who spent more than a decade as a federal prosecutor in New York, argues that rising reports of antisemitic hate crimes require stronger intervention from the attorney general. District attorneys generally prosecute those offenses, but she says their efforts have failed to stop the increase. James, who has held office since 2019, rejects the criticism. Her campaign says she has consistently supported Jewish New Yorkers and pursued those who target them.

Mark Treyger, chief executive of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, cited James’ response when Tsion Cafe, owned by an Ethiopian-Israeli woman in Harlem, faced anti-Israel backlash. He told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that James changed her statewide schedule to visit, offered help and personally followed up. Her ties to Jewish communities also extend to her City Council service, when her district included parts of Crown Heights. Crown Heights United PAC endorsed her in October.

At a press conference last week, outgoing US Representative Jerry Nadler, City Council Speaker Julie Menin and six other Jewish Democratic officials endorsed James. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal highlighted her actions against housing discrimination affecting Hasidic families in Orange County and a Rockland County car wash that overcharged Orthodox Jews. Menin pointed to James’ annual participation in the Israel Day Parade as evidence of her support during difficult periods.

Komatireddy has promised to declare a state of emergency over antisemitism upon taking office. James told JTA that only the governor has that authority. Asked to explain, Komatireddy said she meant invoking a law allowing the attorney general to prosecute hate crimes when a district attorney has been ineffective. She also proposes using existing civil rights law to establish buffer zones around Jewish schools and synagogues.

Some Jewish figures have welcomed the challenger’s message. Moshe Davis, who led the mayor’s office to combat antisemitism under Eric Adams, predicted that it could draw voters away from James. Still, he described James as a longstanding friend of Jewish New Yorkers and said he would not necessarily characterize her response as ignoring antisemitism. An October Siena poll showed James leading 54% to 39%, with a six-point advantage in New York City’s suburbs.

Rabbi Elie Weinstock of Long Island’s Jewish Center of Atlantic Beach said anxiety about antisemitic incidents was shaping voters’ concerns. He also suggested that opposition to Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani could benefit Komatireddy. Meanwhile, Park Avenue Synagogue’s Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove clarified that his welcome to Komatireddy, shown in a video she posted in October, was not an endorsement and occurred during winter or spring.

Komatireddy also faced questions about photographs she posted with members of a Black Hebrew Israelite church that has expressed antisemitic views. She told JTA the Rochester street encounter was unplanned and that she rejected the group’s hateful views and deleted the post after learning about it. SAR Academy principal Binyamin Krauss, who hosted James last week without endorsing a candidate, disputed her portrayal as inattentive to antisemitism, citing her support after two men were stabbed on Manhattan’s Upper West Side over the summer.