According to an item on www.timesunion.com, Rep. Chris Gibson, long thought by many to be a credible challenger to NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, recently announced that he will not be running in 2018. Instead, when his term ends in early 2017, he’ll take an academic position at Williams College in Williamstown, MA. This will allow him to remain closer to his family.
This comes as a disappoinment to many Republicans in the state, who considered him more attractive than recent Republican candidates like Rob Astorino. However, Sam Barron, writing for the Tri-state dailyvoice.com, thinks that Gibson bowing out will make life easier for Astorino:
...paving the way for Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino to possibly once again become the Republican candidate for the position
Gibson, who spent more than two decades in the service, also holds a PhD in government from Cornell and has previously taught at West Point, so returning to academia after a stint in the House is maybe not that great a stretch. With a houseful of teenagers, the idea of transitioning from a congressional to a gubernatorial campaign mode seemed unattractive to him.
According to Vivan Yee in the New York Times,
It was not lost on Mr. Gibson that taking on Mr. Cuomo, a second-term governor with strong fund-raising and other advantages, would have been a formidable challenge.
Republicans have not won a statewide election since 2002, and have struggled to find viable candidates.
Gibson will begin returning donations made to his exploratory committee.
Zephyr Teachout, a very recent thorn in Gov. Cuomo’s side, is seen as a possible contender for Gibson’ seat.
Back in March, Phil Reisman wrote about Astorino’s "pas de deux" with Donald Trump:
[Astorino] faces re-election next year, and in a heavily Democratic county [Westchester] can’t risk alienating moderate and independent voters who think Trump is a buffoon at best and a dangerous demagogue at worst. There is also a good chance Astorino will run again for governor in 2018 and if that happens, he can ill afford to lose the hearts and minds of Trump’s not inconsiderable statewide followers.
So is Astorino between a rock and a hard place? If Trump becomes the GOP nominee will Astorino be able to embrace him more openly? Or will he have to hedge his bets and keep Trump at arm’s length? If Trump becomes president [shudder] then Astorino can certainly let his true colors shine, but if Hillary becomes President, what will that mean for Astorino’s fortunes? Stay tuned.
