State Sen. John DeFrancisco is suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor.

DeFrancisco, of the 50th Senate District in Central New York, said in a statement that he is "not going to be actively campaigning at this time" due to a number of county committee chairs endorsing Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. DeFrancisco, however, did leave the door open for a return.

"However, if the GOP committee members reconsider before the Republican Convention, I will be available," his statement read.

Joe Holland, a former aide to Gov. George Pataki, remains in the race.

But Molinaro has racked up the lion’s share of the county chairs and, with it, their committees’ weighted votes ahead of the May convention, which will confer preferred designation status on a Republican candidate.

DeFrancisco is considered a conservative Republican and a sharp critic of incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is seeking a third term. But he also faced questions during his campaign over his votes for Cuomo-supported legislation and budgets during his career in Albany.