On May 23, the Conservative Party of New York endorsed candidates for statewide office. These statewide endorsements are tantamont to nomination, since it is extremely difficult for a non-endorsed candidate to force a small qualified party in New York to hold a primary (15,000 signatures of Conservative Party registrants would be needed to set up a Conservative Party primary; otherwise the endorsed candidates become the party’s nominees by default). The Conservative Party endorsed John Faso for Governor. He is one of the two contenders for the Republican Party’s nomination; the other contender is William Weld, who is also the Libertarian Party nominee. The Republicans won’t choose between them until a September primary.