WASHINGTON –State Senator Roy McDonald, one of four Republicans who voted to support marriage equality in the Empire State last year, has decided not to continue his re-election campaign.  He is dropping his bid to run on the Independence Party Line.

McDonald lost the Republican line in the primary, earlier this month, to more conservative Kathleen Marchione

The Human Rights Campaign reacted with disappointment.

“Roy McDonald stood on the right side of history and voted with the best interest of all New York families at heart when he stood up to support marriage equality”, said HRC President Chad Griffin.   “Today, as he ends his re-election campaign, the Human Rights Campaign is proud to stand by our friend Roy McDonald, and we commend him not only for his service to the people of New York, but for the critical role he played in ensuring that all loving, committed same-sex couples in New York have the right to marry.”

McDonald said Republicans like Roy McDonald “… are representative of the growing support nationwide for LGBT equality”.