NY GOP Rep Chris Jacobs Abandons Reelection Attempt After Backlash Over Gun Control Support

U.S. House Rep Chris Jacobs (R-NY) has abandoned an attempt to be reelected after receiving backlash for supporting gun control.

Jacobs had reportedly said previously, “I want to be completely transparent of where I am in Congress. If an assault weapons ban bill came to the floor that would ban something like an AR-15, I would vote for it.”

Additionally, Jacobs voiced support for limiting magazine capacity and said he planned to write a bill banning body armor for civilians.

Jacobs also said he believed it was “perfectly reasonable” to raise the age limit to purchase semi-automatic weapons to 21.

Due to redistricting, Jacobs, who currently represents New York’s 27th Congressional District, had been running instead for the newly redrawn 23rd District, which includes large swaths of new voters and rural counties.

The move by Jacobs potentially clears the way for Buffalo developer Carl Paladino to earn the GOP nomination, assuming he can gather the required amount of signatures.

U.S. House Rep Elise Stefanik (R-NY) endorsed Paladino, who was the NY co-chair of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign after Jacobs bowed out of the race.

In a tweet, Stefanik declared, “Carl is a job creator and conservative outsider who will be a tireless fighter for the people of New York in our fight to put America First to save the country.”

🚨 MAJOR NY ENDORSEMENT 🚨

I am proud to announce my endorsement of my friend Carl Paladino in #NY23.

Carl is a job creator and conservative outsider who will be a tireless fighter for the people of New York in our fight to put America First to save the country.

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/n1Q7i27XN6

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) June 3, 2022

In a statement, Gerard Kassar, who chairs the New York State Conservative Party, welcomed Jacobs’ decision.

Kassar said the party had been “perplexed” by Jacobs’ “recent stance on Second Amendment rights, a position well outside the mainstream of the Republican Party, the Conservative Party, and the voters of NY 23.”

Kassar explained that, “We agree that it’s the best interest of all three — and of Congressman Jacobs himself — that he forgoes a run for reelection and returns to civilian life. We wish him only the best in his future endeavors.”