This was when Pataki declined to run for a 4th term in 2006. Weld offered himself up for Governor (in late 2005), with the party establishment salivating over him (nevermind he had eviscerated the MA GOP on his watch a decade before), since Spitzer looked unstoppable. I believe it was Party Chairman Ed Cox who was his big supporter, but Weld was upended at the GOP State Convention, losing 40-60% to Ex-House Minority Leader John Faso. Weld vowed to stay in to the September primary, but when it appeared he couldn’t change the results, dropped out.
Thanks so much for the update. I had forgotten most of those details (thank God!) Ed Cox - another GOPe/Rino loser! What a mess NY is.
Weld also ran for — and won — the Libertarian nomination for governor in that race.
In New York, more than one party can nominate the same person.
But after he lost the GOP nomination, Weld just quit and left the Libertarians high and dry that year.