Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, seen by national and Empire State Republicans as one of their top potential candidates for the newly open 25th district seat, announced Wednesday that he will not run.

While he called the prospect of serving in Congress “an incredible opportunity,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement that he decided to stay put to “remain on the job that has been my life’s passion.” He noted that he has committed to prosecute at least two murder cases in the coming year.

With Fitzpatrick out of the picture, former Onondaga County Legislator Dale Sweetland may now be the likeliest Republican to run for the seat now held by Rep. Jim Walsh (R), who announced his retirement plans late last month.

The Syracuse-area district votes Democratic in presidential elections, giving the Democrats one of their top pickup opportunities of the cycle.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has attempted to clear the field for former Capitol Hill aide Dan Maffei, who fell 2 points shy of upsetting Walsh in the 2006 election. But Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll (D) has not ruled out a run.
— Josh Kurtz