News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (February 14, 2026 - February 20, 2026) February 20, 2026 4 US Affairs F ormer prosecutor Saritha Komat- ireddy is the favorite of NewYork Republicans to run against incum- bent Attorney General Letitia James November 3. In unanimously endorsing Komatired- dy, who had announced her candidacy in December 2025, the NewYork Republi- can State Committee avoided a primary, not just in the AG race but also other top races. The announcement came as part of the NYState GOP’s Feb. 11, 2026, press re- lease that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman had accepted his nomination for Governor in his race against incum- bent Democrat Kathy Hochul. Blakeman recognized his running mates Joseph Hernandez for State Comp- troller, Saritha Komatireddy for Attorney General, and Todd Hood for Lieutenant Governor when he accepted his nomina- tion. “He (Blakeman) praised Hernandez’s business background and personal story as a Cuban immigrant, Komatireddy’s experience as a federal prosecutor and na- tional security leader, and Hood’s 22-year career in law enforcement and leadership within the NewYork State Sheriffs’ As- sociation.,” the Feb. 11 press release from the NY Republican State Committee said. “Together, we will bring fiscal respon- sibility, accountability, and public safety back to NewYork,” Blakeman added. Komatireddy describes herself on her campaign website sarithafornewyork.com as “a respected former prosecutor, nation- al security expert, and public servant with a career devoted to upholding the rule of law and protecting Americans.” After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Komat- ireddy got her law degree from Harvard, and “has spent over a decade prosecuting leaders in Al Qaeda, ISIS, and the Mexican drug cartels,” her biography says. She has also dealt with high profile cybercrime and money laundering, foreign corrup- tion cases as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of NewYork. “Her cases have impacted individuals and communities across NewYork State, from NewYork City and Long Island to Buffalo and Rochester,” the biography claims. Komatireddy also served as Chief of Staff of the Drug Enforcement Administra- tion, a 10,000-person global law enforce- ment agency. She has been recognized with multiple Attorney General’s Awards and national law enforcement honors through her career. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Komatireddy began her legal career as a clerk for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the U.S. Court of Ap- peals for the D.C. Circuit (now a Supreme Court Justice). She later served as Counsel to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Today, she is a Partner at Holtzman Vogel and teaches at Columbia Law School. New York Republicans Unanimously Endorse Indian American For Attorney General By a StaffWriter PHOTO:@SARITHAFORNEWYORK Saritha Komatireddy. Slew Of US Lawmakers Endorse Illinois Rep. Krishnamoorthi For U.S. Senate Primary T hirty two current and former members of the U.S. House of Representatives launched “Reps for Raja” February 12, 2026, en- dorsing Raja Krishnamoorthi’s bid for the U.S. Senate. The Illinois primaries are scheduled for March 17, and early voting has already begun. The lawmakers listed in the endorse- ment cover a range of regions, genera- tions, and ideological wings of the Demo- cratic caucus, noted a press release from Krishnamoorthi’s campaign. “I am humbled and honored that so many of my colleagues across the Demo- cratic caucus have chosen to endorse my campaign for U.S. Senate,” Krishnamoorthi said. “I have fought alongside these leaders to deliver real results on the issues that matter most – they know firsthand what it takes to break through gridlock and secure meaningful wins for working families. It has been a privilege to work alongside these leaders in the House, and I look forward to building on that progress through bicameral partnership and action in the Senate.” Members of Congress, current and former, who en- dorsed Krishnamoorthi include: • Ami Bera (CA-06) • Ed Case (HI-01) • Joaquin Castro (TX-20) • Gil Cisneros (CA-31) • Joe Courtney (CT-02) • Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) • Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) • Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) • Adam Gray (CA-13) • Luis Gutiérrez* (IL-04) • Phil Hare* (IL-17) • Jim Himes (CT-04) • Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) • Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) • Bill Keating (MA-09) • Mike Levin (CA-49) • Sam Liccardo (CA-16) • Seth Magaziner (RI-02) • Carolyn Maloney* (NY-12) • Dave Min (CA-47) • Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) • Kevin Mullin (CA-15) • Donald Norcross (NJ-01) • Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) • Scott Peters (CA-50) • Emily Randall (WA-06) • Pat Ryan (NY-18) • Greg Stanton (AZ-04) • Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) • Shri Thanedar (MI-13) • Filemon Vela* (TX-34) • GeorgeWhitesides (CA-27) (Carolyn Maloney and Filemon Vela are former Members of Congress) According to Ballotpedia, among the several candidates vying for their party’s endorsement there are at least four “Note- worthy” ones. Among the 10 Democrats, these ‘Noteworthy’ ones include US Rep. Robin Kelly; and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, apart from Krishnamoorthi. On the Republican side, among the 7 Ballotpedia identified former Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy, as the “Noteworthy’ one seeking a GOP nomina- tion. Krishnamoorthi is considered a frontrunner on the Democratic side. His campaign claims that the 32 endorsements prove that “Raja is the best candidate to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate.” The Indian American Congressman is seen as an ef- fective legislator who has worked in a bipartisan fashion when required and has the experience of being a Ranking member in some important Committees. Among the issues his campaign highlights as Krish- namoorthi’s effectiveness is – taking on Big Pharma on the issue of the opioid addiction epidemic; his work on baby food formulas, and the Big Tobacco manufacturers for reaching out to kids, as well as on pocketbook issues like job creation, education, grocery prices and health- care, social security and Medicare. PHOTO:BANNER ON CAMPAIGNWEBSITE @RAJAFORIL Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. By a StaffWriter