Chris Jacobs

Chris Jacobs is no longer the presumed favorite for the 23rd Congressional District seat in the November election.

Jacobs, a Buffalo Republican, was redistricted into the district in late May and quickly became the candidate endorsed by the district’s political parties and incumbent Republican politicians, including Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay.

“Without this backlash I truly believe I could win this election,” Jacobs said during Friday’s news conference. “But it would be an incredibly divisive election for both the Republican Party and for the people of the 23rd Congressional District, many of whom I have never represented. The last thing we need is an incredibly negative, half-truth filled media attack funded by millions of dollars of special interest money coming into our community around this issue of guns and gun violence and gun control. Therefore today I am announcing that I will not run for the 23rd Congressional District. I will finish out my time as 27th (District) member of Congress until the end of the year.”

Borrello, who had previously signaled an interest in the seat, told The Post-Journal on Friday that he is keeping his options open at this point.

Borrello had previously endorsed Jacobs when the new district lines were announced. That endorsement changed after Jacobs said last weekend he would support a federal assault weapons ban in Congress as well as raising the age on some gun purchases to 21, limiting the capacity of ammunition magazines available for sale and banning the sale of military-style body armor to civilians.

“Under the circumstances, I think it was probably the best thing for the party and probably for him as well,” Borrello said when asked by The Post-Journal for comment Friday afternoon.

With Jacobs exiting, it opens the door to a number of other candidates.

Steuben County Republican Chairman Joe Sempolinski had previously backed Jacobs and is running for the district seat in the special election that is expected to be on Aug. 23.

Conservative Republican business owner and Fredonia native Marc Cenedella announced his candidacy for Congress in the special election for New York’s 23rd congressional district in May. Cenedella is a job creator and entrepreneur who has spent more than two decades helping people find employment. He founded Ladders, Inc., a company that connects employers with job seekers across the country and provides career guidance. Today, he is a job search and market expert and a nationally recognized leader on careers and recruiting.

“New Yorkers here need a real representative in Congress, not one who chases the convenience of an easy reelection campaign. I’m a political outsider who has worked for decades to help Americans improve their lives, their incomes, and their careers. I’ve seen firsthand the power that good jobs have for making families stronger and more successful, and the damage that’s done when government undermines the efforts of hard-working people,” he said.

Other interested candidates could include Carl Paladino, who ran for governor in 2010. The Buffalo News was reporting on Friday afternoon Paladino was waiting for Jacobs bow out before announcing his candidacy. Mike Sigler of Tompkins County and Richard Moon of Jamestown as well as Nick Langworthy, current state Republican chairman, are also in the mix.