The rumors that have been building over the past few days were just confirmed as Republican Rep. Bob Turner sent out a press release saying he is going to challenge US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this year.

“I will travel to the Republican State Convention in Rochester later this week and humbly ask for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate. I will respectfully ask for the Conservative nomination a few days later at that Party’s convention. I have made my intentions known to the other Republican candidates in this race,” Turner said.

Turner is the 4th candidate now along with Wendy Long, Rye Town Supervisor Joe Carvin, and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos. It is unclear if any of the current candidates are going to move aside now that Turner is in the race.

In the statement, Turner makes it clear that redistricting factored into his decision.

“I ran for the House six months ago as a private citizen fed up with what is happening in Washington. I could not sit and watch career politicians sink my nation deeper into economic crisis. Brooklyn and Queens voters, of all political parties, graciously responded by sending me to Congress. It now appears that their district has been eliminated.”

A quick programming note. We will be taking Capital Tonight on the road to Rochester on Friday, for what is now a much more exciting state GOP Convention.

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