State Sen. George Onorato, a veteran Queens Democrat, won’t seek reelection to the seat he has held since 1983, clearing the way for a run this fall by Assemblyman Michael Gianaris.
At 82, Onorato is the Senate Democrats’ oldest member. His recent “no” vote on gay marriage made him vulnerable to a primary challenge, worrying party leaders who urged him to step aside, insiders said.
Senate Democrats were anxious to prevent a primary between Onorato and Gianaris, but just as interested in harnessing the assemblyman’s prodigious fund-raising skills for their upcoming battle with the GOP for control of the chamber.
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