In a surprise, Chris Gibson says no to challenging Gov. Cuomo

Rep. Chris Gibson, who had been openly weighing a campaign for governor, announced Monday that he won’t run after all.

Gibson (R-Kinderhook), who had formed an exploratory campaign committee, said instead he will take a teaching job at Williams College in Massachusetts as part of a family decision.

“Mary Jo and I have three teenagers who are in their last years at home,” Gibson said in a statement. “In addition, I was just offered and accepted a position with Williams College as a visiting lecturer on leadership beginning in February 2017, and anticipate accepting other academic positions shortly. Ultimately, for our family, the opportunity to spend increased time together balanced with a return to academia was one we could not pass up. Therefore, I will not be running for governor in 2018.”

Gibson, 51, earlier had said this, his third term in Congress, would be his last and that he was exploring a run for statewide office. He had been traveling around the state and his moderate-to-conservative voting record and military background made him a favorite candidate profile in some Republican circles. He had stepped up his criticism of Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

So Gibson’s announcement came as a bit of a surprise.

Gibson was first elected to Congress in 2010, representing a district that runs from the Hudson Valley to the Southern Adirondacks, while circling around Albany.