The Westchester Republican Party announced Thursday it is supporting John Faso in the race for New York state governor.

Westchester GOP Chairwoman Rose Marie Panio calls local support for Faso overwhelming. However, the state's top Republicans are backing former Massachusetts Governor William Weld. Faso is a long-time state Assemblyman from Columbia County, who also served as minority leader and made a bid for state comptroller in the last election.

A new Marist-NBC Poll shows Faso ahead of Weld for the Republican nomination 30 percent to 21 percent, with half of voters still undecided. Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi are the Democratic candidates. The state Republican convention is May 31 and June 1.

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