Cayuga County Republicans did not endorse a candidate in the race for city of Auburn judge on Monday, but the party remains committed to finding someone to challenge incumbent Democrat Michael McKeon.

The county GOP committee did not chose to follow the path of the Cayuga County Conservative Party, which endorsed McKeon last week.

“We are still very much thinking that there will be a (Republican) judge candidate,” committee chairwoman Cherl Heary said.

The committee did make a slew of choices in state Legislature and Congressional races.

Those choices included backing for all three incumbent state Assembly representatives for the county - Republicans Gary Finch (District 123), Robert Oaks (District 128) and Brian Kolb (District 129). The three had already secured the Conservative Party endorsement.

Democrats have endorsed challengers Barbara Abbot King for Finch's seat and Noah Sargent for Kolb's seat.

In the race for the 54th state Senate District, the Republicans endorsed incumbent state Sen. Michael Nozzolio, who was also the Conservative Party choice. He faces a challenge from Democratic candidate Paloma Capanna.

The Republicans also followed suit with Conservatives in supporting James DiStefano for the 49th state Senate District, a seat now held by Sen. David Valesky, who has the county Democrats backing. DiStefano is a former town supervisor in the Onondaga County town of Dewitt.

Heary said DiStefano had already emerged as the choice for the Onondaga County GOP, a contributing factor in the Cayuga Republicans' decision to throw their support behind him because a large portion of that district falls within Onondaga County.

In the 25th Congressional District, the county GOP had already backed Dale Sweetland in the race to fill incumbent Republican James Walsh's seat. Walsh has decided to retire this year.

Democrats have backed Dan Maffei, while Conservatives are supporting Sweetland.

In the 24th Congressional District, county Republicans endorsed Richard Hanna, also the Conservative Party choice. He looks to take on incumbent Democrat Rep. Michael Arcuri.

The Republicans have also endorsed Patrick MacIntosh in the race for the Cayuga County Legislature District 15 seat. MacIntosh, who also has the Conservative endorsement, was appointed to that seat earlier this year following the death of Steven Netti.

“I think a lot of people are very happy with what he's done,” Heary said of MacIntosh. “He's been very willing to work with people and he's a team player.”

Democrats have not announced a candidate for that seat.