Turner Secures Place on G.O.P. Senate Ballot

U.S Rep. Bob Turner, R-Forest Hills, is still vying to take on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., in the fall, but he has to go through two other Republicans first.

Turner, secured a spot on the GOP ballot at the state convention in Rochester on Friday.

The final nominee for the party will be decided in the state's June 26 primary. Other candidates are Conservative Wendy Long and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, the New York Times reported.

Turner, who quickly rose to political prominence after winning a special election in a solidly blue Ninth District in Queens, said he was thrilled by the support for his candidacy.

“This was an amazing victory for a campaign that began just 72-hours ago,” Turner said. “I am enormously grateful for all the support I received at the convention and I am energized to deliver my message of job growth and fiscal responsibility in every corner of this state.”

After thanking his fellow Republicans, Turner began what is likely to be a year-long flogging of Gillibrand’s policy choices.

“Senator Kirsten Gillibrand does not deserve re-election. She defrauded the voters of this state with promises that she would act as a moderate,” he said.  “Instead, she has governed from the far left and is now ranked the most liberal senator in America. That is a firing offense.”

As in his Congressional campaign last year, Turner will work to frame the economy and New York’s jobs market as the most important issue.

Turner announced his intention to run for Senate after his current seat — the Ninth District, which covers parts of both Brooklyn and Queens, including Forest Hills — was redistricted out of existence.