BUFFALO, N.Y. — Nate McMurray announced on Twitter and his campaign website on August 10 that he is once again running for the NY-27 congressional seat.
McMurray is the first Democrat to announce his candidacy. Three Republicans have also announced their bid for the seat, State Senator Chris Jacobs, attorney Beth Parlato and State Senator Robert Ortt.
Congressman Chris Collins (R-NY) previously held the position. Collins submitted his resignation from office on Monday.
"Well there were other opportunities for me," McMurray said. "I looked at different things from a professional standpoint and also from a public service standpoint, and I thought this is the race I am most passionate about. It's something I just feel fire to get back in it."
The Grand Island town supervisor ran against Collins and lost last November. McMurray was about 1,400 votes short in his upset bid.
McMurray told 2 On Your Side in February that he would not run for re-election for the town supervisor position, saying he could not commit to four more years in that office.
2 On Your Side's Steve Brown asked McMurray about trying again, "Is it because you were close last time?"
McMurray responded, "That's certainly a part of it. We certainly have a lot of support in NY-27, and you want to finish what you started. But it's also about the man I am still against, which is Mr. Collins. I was hoping he would go away, and we would be beyond this by now, but he is clinging to his position, and I think he needs opposition from all sides."
Following Collins' resignation McMurray announced that he will hold a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the status of the race.