Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb says he is ending his campaign for Governor of New York. Kolb, a Canandaigua Republican who had just announced last December that he was a candidate, issued a statement late Friday afternoon saying that it is with “a heavy heart” that he is ending his campaign.
Kolb's decision to leave the race came suddenly. In fact he was scheduled to take part in a candidate debate Saturday in Erie County.
There are still other Republicans interested in running for governor against incumbent Democrat Andrew Cuomo, including State Senator John DeFrancisco and former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra.
Kolb says he will continue on in the NYS Assembly. He has been a member of the Assembly since 2000, and Minority Leader for the last 8 years.
Democrats have a 2-to-1 advantage in party registration in New York. The last Republican elected governor was George Pataki in 2002.
Here is Brian Kolb's full statement:
"It is with a heavy heart that today I am announcing I am ending my campaign for Governor of New York.
As I left my home before dawn this morning, saying goodbye to my incredible wife, I knew that I'd be spending the next week, the week after, and every week for at least the next nine months on the road, away from my loving family. That moment helped put what is truly important in life back into perspective.
The last few months have been an incredible journey, and I am very grateful to so many friends, volunteers, activists, business and community leaders, and donors for their support. It has been humbling to have the support of so many Republican County Chairs and State Committee people from all across our state.
I will continue to serve the people of New York as Assembly Leader and look forward to continuing to fight for lower taxes, good jobs for New York families, and an end to the corruption in the Cuomo administration."
