A Super PAC bankrolled by New York Knicks owner James Dolan is making a seven-figure investment in the race for New York attorney general, throwing its weight behind Republican candidate Saritha Komatireddy in her bid to unseat two-term Democratic incumbent Letitia James.
The group, Strong and Safe New York, is launching a series of billboards across Long Island, Westchester County and Rockland County touting Komatireddy's pro-safety and security agenda. The billboards are part of what a spokesperson for the group described as a seven-figure investment in the candidate's candidacy.
"New York finally has a chance to restore safety and security by electing Saritha Komatireddy as the next Attorney General," said Strong and Safe New York spokesperson Carson Steelman.
Strong and Safe New York has until now focused on boosting Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman in his race against Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul. The group is funded by Dolan as well as retired casino mogul Steve Wynn and others.
Komatireddy, 42, is a former federal prosecutor who has drawn a recent spike in attention after performing well in last week's NY1/Spectrum News debate. According to the Post, she put James on the defensive over the incumbent's support of the controversial cashless bail law and her record on fighting antisemitic hate crimes and Medicaid fraud.
As a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York, Komatireddy handled some of the nation's most high-profile cases involving international terrorism, cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, fraud and foreign public corruption. She prosecuted terrorists affiliated with al Qaeda, ISIS and Mexican drug cartels. She also served as chief of staff of the Drug Enforcement Administration and started her legal career as a clerk for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, before Kavanaugh was named to the US Supreme Court. Komatireddy graduated from Harvard College and Harvard Law School and teaches at Columbia Law School.
The billboard campaign and the size of the investment have generated discussion online, with users on X weighing in on the influx of outside money into the race. The account @nypost carried the initial report of the Super PAC's spending, which was then circulated by other users.
The broader trend of Super PAC spending in races across the country has drawn scrutiny in recent days. The Daily Mail reported that progressive candidates have been scooping up primaries with the support of Super PACs funded by non-traditional donors with little history of political spending. A letter to the editor in hometownsource.com questioned what big outside money can buy, citing a report on how a conservative Super PAC based in the East has spent huge sums.
Next News Network could not independently verify the claims about the Super PAC's spending or the debate performance described in the report.
Our Take
The New York attorney general's race is shaping up to be a referendum on the state's direction, and the entry of a well-funded Super PAC backing Komatireddy signals that Republicans see an opportunity. James has been a controversial figure, and her record on crime and public safety is fair game. The fact that Dolan, Wynn and others are willing to put serious money behind Komatireddy shows that the GOP establishment is taking this race seriously. Voters deserve a clear choice, and the billboards will help get Komatireddy's message out. The left will complain about outside money, but they have their own Super PACs and dark money networks. What matters is that New Yorkers have a chance to restore safety and security by electing a prosecutor who has actually put terrorists and cartel members behind bars.
