Chris Bragg in Capitol Confidential reports that union official and former AAA minor league umpire Shaun Francis of Wilton will challenge Republican state Sen. Kathy Marchione of Halfmoon, in her district that covers part of northen Columbia County and Rensselaer County. Marchione, a former Saratoga County clerk, won the seat in 2012 by defeating state Sen. Roy McDonald in a Republican primary, following McDonald’s vote in favor of same-sex marriage. “Roy McDonald was everything you could hope for in a state senator, a Republican moderate, and middle-of-the-road. He’s someone who respected labor and also knew how to make the economy work for business as well,” Francis said. “I’m very distressed that our current state senator took a vote Roy McDonald made for equality — a vote widely respected across New York — and used it for a political opportunity.” Marchione's spokeperson Josh Fitzpatrick responded, saying the senator was working diligently at “delivering real tax relief, making New York more affordable, and our economy more competitive, securing record funding for schools and providing a better quality of life for everyone.” Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.