Jimmy Vielkind reports in Politico New York that Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, after leaving, and then re-entering the race for the Republican nomination for governor, now appears to be leading. Molinaro’s campaign has 16 endorsements from Republican county leaders, for about 35 percent of the weighted vote of the party’s state committee, compared to State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse) with 17 county endorsements for 18 percent of the vote. Molinaro is backed by Republican leaders in some of the most populous counties in the state, including Erie, Suffolk, and Monroe counties. More than 25 percent of the vote at the party convention in late May gives a candidate a spot on the ballot without petitions. DeFrancisco and Molinaro have said in the past that they want to avoid the petition process. Joseph Holland, another announced Republican, has not received any formal endorsements from party leaders. Read the full story in Politico New York.