ALBANY — State Republicans are planning to develop a second ballot line for the party’s statewide candidates, The Post has learned.
Jason Weingartner, the party’s executive director, sent a letter to the state’s 62 counties informing them of the plan.
“..[We are] planning on circulating independent nominating petitions for our statewide candidates in order to create an issue-themed additional voting line…” the letter states.
One county chair said the theme of the line would be educational based, “probably something to do with Common Core,” the state’s controversial testing program for schools.
“Common Core is a hot issue in New York, so it would make a lot of sense to tap into the anger it has created,” the source said.
Circulation of the letter comes just a few days before the Working Families Party will make its endorsement for governor.
Gov. Cuomo, who has already secured the Democratic and Independence Party lines, is lobbying hard to get Working families as well.
That would give him three ballot lines against GOP challenger Rob Astorino.
In order for the GOP to successfully get the new line it will have to get 15,000 valid signatures.