Carolyn Maloney Drops Senate Challenge To Gillibrand

Looks like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand won't face a primary challenge next year: Rep. Carolyn Maloney released a statement indicating she's dropping a bid to challenge the newly anointed junior Senator. You can read the full statement here; here's an excerpt: "These are unique times with unparalleled challenges and running for the Senate is a full time job. Giving up for a critical period of time, the things I do best-passing legislation, working on the issues, serving New Yorkers would put politics before policy for the next year and a half... I may not be entering the race - but I will never leave the fight." The NY Times reports, "A person close to Ms. Maloney, who represents parts of Manhattan and Queens, said she reached the decision after days of consideration that running would mean leaving her current job at a point when she had significant seniority in Congress. "