Rudy Giuliani is expected to announce today that he won’t run for the US Senate next year, sources said last night.
That’s good news for appointed Democrat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Even though former Gov. George Pataki has not ruled out challenging Gillibrand, he is not expected to do so, and there are no other prominent GOP candidates who are likely to take her on.
Giuliani’s decision likely marks the end of his own electoral career.
He’s expected to support Republican Rick Lazio for governor.
But Giuliani plans to continue to be a force within the party, helping to expand its base as well as speaking out on issues important to him.
Those include lobbying against the Democrats’ health-care proposals and the 9/11 trials being held near Ground Zero.
Giuliani had made clear to his inner circle weeks ago that he was not running for governor, sources said. But he had left the door open to challenging Gillibrand.
That would have fit with the hopes of newly minted state GOP Chairman Ed Cox, who pushed for a Giuliani Senate run months ago.
Several Giuliani friends suggested such a move would have been a stepping stone to seeking the presidency again.
But the former mayor is entrenched in his current lifestyle, sources said. He’s created a multitiered career of speeches, consulting and security work, and a law practice.
His security firm recently signed a contract to work at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.