Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin's bid for the party's gubernatorial nomination continued to pick up endorsements from elected officials on Tuesday as his campaign announced the backing of Western New York Sen. Pat Gallivan. 

“New York needs a governor who can lead by example, who will make New Yorkers proud and honor the public trust," Gallivan said in a statement. "Lee Zeldin is a family man who has served with integrity in the U.S. Army, in the State Senate and in Congress. New York is on the wrong path - runaway spending, rising crime and mired in allegations of misconduct involving the governor - it is clear that we need change. Lee Zeldin represents the change we need and is the right person to lead New York forward.”

The endorsement from Gallivan is the latest institutional nod Zeldin has received as he seeks to become the favorite to win the nomination in the race for governor more than a year in advance. 

Zeldin is competing against former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, the party's 2014 nominee, as well as Andrew Giuliani, for the nomination. Sheriff Mike Carpinelli, from Lewis County, is also making a run.

Zeldin's campaign since April has received the backing of multiple Republican state lawmakers as well as endorsements from Republican and Conservative Party county chairs. The endorsements could give Zeldin a boost in securing the preferred nominee status, but that's not a guarantee Republican voters will select him as the nominee a year from now if there is a party primary.