Republican Saritha Komatireddy has narrowed the gap against incumbent Democratic Attorney General Letitia James in the New York state race, according to a recent internal poll conducted for the GOP candidate. The survey, conducted from October 12 to 14 among 1,000 likely voters, shows James leading Komatireddy by 6 points, with 50.7% support to 44.7%, a significant reduction from the 13-point margin reported in a Siena University poll last month.

The poll attributes much of Komatireddy’s improved standing to her strong performance during the October 8 debate. Among the 20% of likely voters who watched the debate, Komatireddy leads decisively, winning 81% to 19%. Conversely, James maintains a lead among those who did not see the debate, with 59% to 36%. The pollster, On-Message Inc., indicated that the difference in support between debate watchers and non-watchers underscores a key dynamic in the race: undecided and soft voters who have seen Komatireddy’s debate performance tend to break in her favor, while those who have not remain with the incumbent by default.

The poll also highlights a notable shift in support among registered independent voters. In May, James held a slight edge with independents, with a 40% favorable to 37% unfavorable rating. The latest findings reveal that James’s favorability among independents has declined to 40%, with 51% viewing her unfavorably, many characterizing their views as "very unfavorable." Komatireddy now leads this group 49% to 43%, signaling growing cross-party appeal.

Geographically, Komatireddy’s support grows stronger in key suburban and upstate regions critical for a Republican challenge. She holds a 57% to 41% lead on Long Island, a 54% to 44% advantage in the broader downstate suburbs, and a 50% to 44% lead upstate. James’s strength remains concentrated in New York City, where she commands a 65% to 30% advantage over Komatireddy.

Demographically, Komatireddy leads among men, 53% to 43%, and among voters without a college degree, 50% to 45%. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

With approximately four percent of voters still undecided, the final weeks before Election Day are expected to focus heavily on increasing Komatireddy’s visibility among voters, particularly those who have not yet seen her. The GOP campaign emphasized that presenting Komatireddy directly to undecided voters will be critical to closing the remaining gap in what has been considered a challenging race for a Republican in heavily Democratic New York.