There’s now a fourth Republican vying to challenge freshman Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) in the upstate 20th district next year.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Michael Rocque told the Albany Times Union that he has joined the Republican field that includes former state GOP Chairman Sandy Treadwell, Richard Wager, an aide to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), and political neophyte John Wallace.

Rocque has hired Brendan Quinn, a top-flight New York Republican operative and former executive director of the state GOP, as a consultant. This is interesting for New York insiders because Quinn ran the state party just before Treadwell became chairman, and the two are now firmly in different camps within the New York GOP.

Treadwell, who is personally wealthy and is the favorite of national Republicans, raised more than $330,000 in his first quarter of fundraising. Quinn told the Times Union that Rocque has raised about $50,000 so far.

Gillibrand, a top Republican target this cycle, surpassed $1 million in cash on hand as of June 30.
— Josh Kurtz