Mark Teixeira, the switch-hitting first baseman who helped power the Yankees to their 2009 World Series title, has thrown his support behind Republican attorney general candidate Saritha Komatireddy as she challenges two-term Democratic incumbent Letitia James. Teixeira said New York needs an attorney general who prioritizes public safety and prosperity, and he urged New Yorkers to vote for Komatireddy in the race.
A Championship Endorsement Lands Weeks Before Election Day
The endorsement, reported by the New York Post, comes as Komatireddy tries to unseat James, who is seeking a third term. Komatireddy is a former federal prosecutor who previously served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York from 2013 to 2025, according to JNS, which also reports she is 42 years old and was born in Brooklyn. She is a proud mother of four, according to her campaign website.
During her time as a federal prosecutor, Komatireddy led investigations and prosecutions touching on terrorism, cybercrime, money laundering, foreign public corruption, violent gangs and narcotics, per Spectrum News. She also served as chief of staff of the Drug Enforcement Administration during the Biden administration and clerked for Brett Kavanaugh at the U.S. Court of Appeals before he joined the Supreme Court, the same report notes.
Teixeira's Yankees Legacy and His Political Pitch
Teixeira spent the majority of his 15-year major league career with the Yankees after stints with the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, per the New York Post. He was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2003, earned three All-Star selections, won five Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards, and during the 2009 championship season he hit 39 home runs and drove in 122 runs. Teixeira is now a Republican congressional candidate in Texas's 21st House District.
Komatireddy welcomed the endorsement, saying Teixeira understands what New York is like when it works. She said public safety must come before politics, adding that James has had it backwards for seven years, and said she was grateful for Teixeira's support and would work diligently. Komatireddy made the comments.
Public Safety Framing Meets a Steep Fundraising Gap
Komatireddy has cast public safety as the central issue of the race. She has described it as the overriding issue right now in New York in terms of the attorney general's race, according to JNS. New York has not elected a Republican attorney general in more than 30 years, according to City & State New York, a historical trend Komatireddy is trying to reverse.
Money remains a significant obstacle for her campaign. As of October 5, James reported roughly $6.2 million in cash on hand compared with about $323,000 for Komatireddy, according to the New York Law Journal. The outlet reported that James holds a substantial financial advantage over her Republican challenger heading into the final stretch of the campaign, and noted that the filings highlight the growing role of the state's public campaign finance system in the race.
Despite the disparity, both candidates have qualified for New York's statewide public matching-funds program, even though James maintains the clear fundraising edge, according to NY1's coverage of the race. A spokesperson for the James campaign responded to the Teixeira endorsement by asking why Komatireddy was not touting a maxed-out contribution she received from Vivek Ramaswamy, who is the Republican candidate for Ohio governor.
