ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Presumptive Republican candidate for New York governor Marc Molinaro has chosen a former two-time state Senate candidate as his running mate.

The Dutchess County executive has chosen Julie Killian to join him on the GOP ticket as his lieutenant governor candidate.

Sunday's announcement comes as Republicans prepare for this week's state GOP convention in Manhattan. Molinaro is expected to receive the party's nod to run for governor when the GOP gathers Wednesday and Thursday to nominate candidates.

Killian is a former deputy mayor of the city of Rye in Westchester County. She lost to Shelley Mayer in last month's special election for the Senate's 37th district. She also vied in the 2016 election for the same seat, losing to Democrat George Latimer, who was elected Westchester County executive last year.

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