New York Republicans appear to have avoided a bloody primary fight in the upstate 20th district represented by Rep. Scott Murphy (D).

The district’s Republican county committees lined up behind retired Army Col. Chris Gibson last week, prompting businessman Patrick Ziegler to drop out of the race.

Gibson had already gathered the majority of the district’s county party committee endorsements, which Saratoga County party Chairman John Jasper Nolan said factored in to the 10 chairmen’s decision on Wednesday. Nolan said the chairmen also “felt that Chris had a larger area of knowledge and … worldview.”

Gibson will face off against Murphy, who came to office in a special election just less than a year ago. Murphy is a top GOP target, especially after switching from “no” to “yes” between November and the final vote on the health care reform bill.

Murphy has been preparing for a tough race and reported $726,000 in cash on hand to start the year.