While Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R-Canandaigua) suddenly ended his gubernatorial campaign on Friday — speculation quickly erupted over the possible ‘reasons’ for the exit.
Kolb himself released a statement on Friday afternoon announcing the move. “It is with a heavy heart that today I am announcing I am ending my campaign for Governor of New York,” the release read.
It continued, “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.”
That perspective means not transforming Albany from the Governor’s Mansion.
Politico reported Friday evening that there could have been other factors at play, like the possibility of a sexual harassment charge.
Kolb took to Twitter to dispel those suggestions.
https://twitter.com/GOPLdrBrianKolb/status/962098683985760269
The Assemblyman said he expects to continue serving as ‘Leader’ maintaining his seat. He also said that the last few months, while his campaign was active — was an ‘incredible journey’. “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 Committeepeople from all across our state,” Kolb added in his statement on Friday.
“[I] 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,” Kolb concluded.
The move was particularly surprising because he had acquired so much support over the first few months of his campaign. Altogether, Kolb said that he had picked up around 48 percent of the weighted vote needed to win the nomination this spring.
https://twitter.com/GOPLdrBrianKolb/status/962099529721044993
