The Ontario County Conservative party says they are opting to not endorse any candidate in the controversial special election for Congressional District 27.
The seat was vacated last fall by Former Congressman Chris Collins. He pleaded guilty in an insider trading case, which prompted the resignation.
State Senator Chris Jacobs, a Republican, was endorsed by party chairs throughout the district.
“A divisive, expensive and possibly nasty primary election now seems guaranteed after at least two of the rejected candidates promise to take their case to the voters for the subsequent contest on June 23,” the Buffalo News reported after the announcement.
Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr. said the decision to nominate Jacobs was made behind closed doors.
The Ontario County Conservative Party has asked their Chairman Reid Robbins to make the following recommendation to the State Conservative Party Chairman, Jerry Kassar and the executive committee regarding the race:
“Given the candidates of the special election for the New York 27th district, we would not like to endorse anyone for this election. As always, we encourage our conservatives to vote their conscience in every single election. We believe such an endorsement in the special election would split the conservative vote, therefore, allowing an individual who is woefully unfit to represent us to win.
However, we do plan on recommending a staunch conservative for endorsement to executive committee for the June primary for New York’s 27th district. This will allow the conservatives in our county and district the opportunity to determine which candidate they would like to represent them in Washington D.C.”
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