Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, who was hoping to challenge New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, is ending his campaign.

Kolb was the first Republican to announce he'd be challenging Cuomo. At the time, he didn't shy away from voicing his displeasures with the current administration, saying "People have to decide: Do they have enough reasons to fire Governor Cuomo and do they have enough reasons to hire me?"

Kolb announced his decision to exit the race on Friday, saying he wants to spend more time with his family.

"As I left my home before dawn this morning, saying goodbye to my incredible wife, I knew that I'd be spending the next week, the week after, and every week for at least the next nine months on the road, away from my loving family. That moment helped put what is truly important in life back into perspective," Kolb said.

Kolb had been scheduled to appear at a press conference with the Owego Town Supervisor Friday evening. Two hours before the planned event, officials sent out word that Kolb would not be participating.

With Kolb out of the picture, Sen. John DeFrancisco and former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra are the remaining Republicans currently in the race.