The NY GOP has no intention of running a conservative. From their actions I can only assume they are intentionally trying to let Cuomo have another term. They are doing nothing to prevent Cuomo form tightening his grip on existing rights let alone the ones that have been eroded away over the years. I would move if I could find a job in a free state. Being old-ish and having a narrow job field doesn’t help for relocating.
The NY GOP never intends to run a conservative. More often than they’d like, the Conservative Party forces them into it.
The Republicans cannot win statewide without the Conservative Party and they know it. They hate it, but they know it. If the Conservatives nominate someone for governor other than the person the Republicans nominate, Cuomo will romp. (He may anyway, depending on who the candidate is.) It’s hard enough for the Republicans to win. Without the Conservatives, they h e zero shot.
Frankly, if they run different gubernatorial candidates, the Conservative party may end up taking away Row B. That’s how weak teh NY GOP is.