Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy from Long Island has said that she will not be running against Kirsten Gillibrand in the US Senate race in the state next year. McCarthy, a longtime gun-control advocate, had been talking up a contest with Gillibrand. But Carolyn Maloney from Manhattan is now notifying her colleagues that she intends to run in the Democratic primary next year.

CQPolitics:

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy will not challenge Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in a Democratic primary. McCarthy, a thorn in Gillibrand’s side of late, had said she would take on the newly appointed senator in 2010 if no one else did.

But McCarthy has reversed course, citing personal issues.

“I’m not running,” she said Thursday afternoon.

That further clears the field for Gillibrand, who has had difficulty coalescing her delegation around her bid.

Related posts:

1. Update on the Senate Race
2. It’s official: Maloney’s out
3. Gillibrand keeps racking up the endorsements
4. Maloney to challenge Gillibrand in the Democratic primary
5. Guv appointed Gillibrand, but won’t commit to supporting her