The Conservative Party of New York is a minor American political party active only in the state of New York. It was founded in 1962 by a group including J. Daniel Mahoney and Charles Edison, out of frustration with the perceived liberalism of the state's Republican Party. An early supporter was National Review editor William F. Buckley, who served as the party's candidate for mayor of the city of New York in 1965. In 1970, James Buckley, brother of William, was elected to the US Senate as a Conservative Party candidate; however, in 1976, he ran for reelection as a Republican, losing to Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In the 2004 US Senate election, the Conservative Party endorsed Marilyn O'Grady to oppose Republican candidate Howard Mills and incumbent Democratic Senator Charles Schumer.
In most cases, the Conservative Party's strategy is to endorse the same candidate as the Republicans, but to withhold their support from candidates they decide to be too liberal. For example, the Conservative Party withheld their support from Republican Rudy Giuliani's fusion campaigns for New York City mayor in 1989, 1993 and 1997 -- their lack of support in 1989 was one important factor in Giuliani losing that year .
See also: Conservative Party of New Jersey
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