ALBANY – State Republican Chairman Nick Longworthy has emailed GOP members around the state asking them to select the candidate they support to run against Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo next year.

The 10-person field in Langworthy’s “official poll” includes a handful of Hudson Valley candidates including Yonkers attorney and businessman Joe Holland.

Also included on the list from the Hudson Valley Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, who lost to Cuomo in the last gubernatorial election; former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino; Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus, who is unopposed in his re-election bid this fall; and Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

Rounding out the field in the GOP chairman’s poll are Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of Schuylerville; Congressman Lee Zeldin of Patchogue; Rensselaer County executive Steve McLaughlin; and Lewis County Sheriff Mike Carpinelli.

Previously, Mr. Holland ran for Attorney General of New York in 1994 and 2018 and ran for Governor of New York in 2018; he has also run for New York State Senate.

One of ten children, Holland is the son of Laura Mitchell Holland and Jerome H. Holland, who served as the United States Ambassador to Sweden under President Richard Nixon.

He received a B.A. and an M.A. from Cornell University.

Mr. Holland opened a law office, and also started and ran a 15-bed homeless shelter in a church basement, founded a drug rehabilitation program and acquired a travel agency.

He also opened the first Ben & Jerry’s store in Harlem and a soul food restaurant, staffing both with homeless-shelter residents.

Mr. Holland served as co-chair of George Pataki’s successful 1994 gubernatorial campaign and was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal.

He held this position from 1995 until October 1996, when he resigned to “‘focus on resolving outstanding personal business matters'” following “threats by creditors to garnish his state salary in a bid to enforce court judgments.” .

An author, Mr. Holland has published a spiritual memoir entitled  “From Harlem With Love: An Ivy Leaguer’s Inner-City Odyssey“

Mr. Holland is an ordained minister and is married Alisa White in 1995

The couple has three children and the family resides in Yonkers.