Capital Region Scene

Republicans vie for U.S. Senate primary spot

Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos likely cemented a spot on the Republican primary ballot for U.S. Senate this June with the endorsement of the Queens County Republican Party.

Maragos is vying to be the GOP nominee to opposed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, this fall.

Also competing for the GOP spot are Joe Carvin, a town supervisor in Westchester County, and Manhattan attorney Wendy Long.

All three candidates will be in Schenectady tonight for a Schenectady County Republican dinner.

Saratoga County Republicans endorsed Long this morning. Committee Chairman Jasper Nolan said her background and experience worked in her favor. "Wendy has an excellent background in legal matters," he said of Long's pedigree, which includes time under Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Nolan also spoke with Maragos and Carvin, who he said were fine, but felt Long really stood out. "I think she'll match up excellently with Sen. Gillibrand," he said.

Long is still in need of multiple endorsements before she can reach the threshold to appear on the Republican primary ballot.

In order to qualify for the Republican primary, a candidate needs to get endorsements from county Republican Committees. Each county has a weighted vote based on how many Republican votes were cast in the county for Carl Paladino in 2010.

Once a candidate has received at least 25 percent of the weighted vote, he or she can appear on the primary ballot. On March 16, the Republican County committees will vote on candidates to put on the ballot.

With endorsements from the Nassau, Suffolk, Albany, Orange and Schoharie counties' Republicans already, this latest endorsement gives Maragos more than 27 percent of the committed vote, which means he should appear in a primary this summer.

A candidate may also get on the primary ballot by petition.

Read our interview with George Maragos here.

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Queens County GOP Endorses George Maragos for US Senate

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