McDonald won't campaign as third-party candidate

PHOTOGRAPHER: David Lombardo

State Sen. Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, will not actively campaign as a third-party candidate in the 43rd Senate District, according to two sources close to the campaign.

On Monday it became clear that McDonald would not be able to wrestle the Republican nomination away from Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione, who will be the Republican and Conservative candidate. At that point, McDonald’s campaign put out a statement saying it would weigh its options and make an announcement in the coming days.

An announcement about McDonald’s campaign is expected “shortly,” according to campaign spokesman Michael Veitch. Vetich would not comment on the content of the announcement

McDonald told the Gazette after primary night that he would run as a candidate of the Independence Party, which put its support behind him earlier this summer.

One source familiar with McDonald’s decision not to run as an Independence candidate, said the senator is leaving the race in order to ensure the Republican party maintains its razor thin majority in the Senate.

The second source said that McDonald has been mulling over his decision for the past few days and was encouraged by the sign of support from Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday.