Updated: 8/13/19 12:07 P.M.
BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) - The new head of the New York Republican party says his goal is to take back the Governor’s office in 2022.*
Nick Langworthy spoke at a stop in Binghamton on Wednesday.
Langworthy said the GOP faces an uphill battle in electing anyone to a statewide office. Democrats control both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office. “In a state where you have three million more Democrats than the Republicans odds are they’re going to elect Democrats statewide.”
Langworthy said he wants to improve those odds by adding more Republicans to the voter rolls.
Especially young Republicans.
At 38, Langworthy is the youngest party chair in state GOP history. "We are going on a mission across this state to recruit more young people into this process," Langworthy said. "To involve more young people in senior leadership positions within this party. To bring more young candidates to public office."
This call for unity comes after a contentious Republican primary during this year's Broome County District Attorney primary.
In that race, Paul Battisti beat Mike Korchak by less than 200 votes. The race featured personal attacks by both candidates.
Still, Langworthy said he’s not worried about a unity issue with the Broome GOP.
“You had a spirited primary for an open seat in county government," he said. "Mr. Battisti won and I think he’s going to be the next district attorney of Broome County. We're excited about that”
Korchak is still in the race for Broome DA. He announced last week he’ll run on the Libertarian Party line. He’ll face Battisti and Democrat Debra Gelson in November.
*Corrects the year of the next New York gubernatorial election