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Harry Wilson won’t run for governor

Harry Wilson, the Scarsdale businessman, won't run for governor this year, a blow to Republicans who had considered him a top choice to run against Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Credit: WGRZ file
The New York State Capitol in Albany

ALBANY – Harry Wilson, the Scarsdale businessman, won't run for governor this year, a blow to Republicans who had considered him a top choice to run against Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Wilson had talked about putting $10 million into a campaign, but chose instead to focus on his family, according to state Conservative Party chairman Mike Long, who said he spoke to Wilson on Sunday.

"He's decided that it's not for him at this point, mainly family concerns and his kids," Long told the USA Today Network's Albany Bureau on Monday. "I told him I respected his decision. I think family does come first, and I think that displayed the qualities in him."

Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, who is also considering a run for governor, said Wilson called him Sunday to tell him he would not run. Molinaro said he expects to make his own decision in the coming days. Wilson did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Wilson, 46, a money manager, made a strong yet unsuccessful run for state comptroller in 2010 and has toyed with running for office again since then.

He had toured the state in recent months to gauge Republicans' interest in having him run for governor, and he has been increasingly critical on Twitter of the Democratic governor's performance.

But he has also talked about weighing whether it was the right time for him to run because he has four young daughters. The Daily News first reported Wilson's decision late Sunday.

Nonetheless, GOP and Conservative party leaders were high on Wilson, and Long said Monday that Wilson was the "odds-on favorite" for the parties' nomination if he ran.

Cuomo is expected to seek a third term in November and had more than $26 million in his campaign coffers in July, making it uphill battle for any Republican candidate to even come close to matching his warchest.

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, Ontario County, announced his candidacy last month.

Molinaro and Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse are also considering a run. So too is former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra.

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