Syracuse, NY - Onondaga County Comptroller Robert Antonacci stepped aside in the race for state attorney general Wednesday after losing the Republican Party designation to Daniel Donovan, the district attorney from Staten Island. Donovan won 60 percent of the vote at the state GOP convention Wednesday. With 40 percent of the vote, Antonacci earned a primary against Donovan, but decided...
Syracuse, NY - Onondaga County Comptroller Robert Antonacci stepped aside in the race for state attorney general Wednesday after losing the Republican Party designation to Daniel Donovan, the district attorney from Staten Island.
Donovan won 60 percent of the vote at the state GOP convention Wednesday. With 40 percent of the vote, Antonacci earned a primary against Donovan, but decided to step aside and to co-chair Donovan’s Upstate campaign instead.
Antonacci said he did not want to spend the $1 million or so it would take to run in a primary, especially because Donovan shares many of his concerns about state government.
“I think Dan Donovan is going to do a great job,” he said.
Antonacci, who began campaigning just three weeks ago, said he was pleased to win 40 percent of the vote. But he’s not sure he will run for statewide office again.
“I don’t know if the stars will ever align,” he said. “I may never have another chance.”
In any case, Antonacci, who is in his first term as county comptroller, said he’s happy in the job.
“I have every intention at this point in time of running for re-election as comptroller,” he said.
Contact Tim Knauss at tknauss@syracuse.com or 470-3023.