The New York state Conservative Party will be meeting three candidates this week in the eventual special election to replace Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik in New York's 21st Congressional District, but at this time, still prefers state Sen. Dan Stec, the party told Spectrum News 1 Monday.

Stec, R-Queensbury, represents New York's 45th state Senate District, which is made up of the eastern part of the state’s North Country, including Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Lake Placid and Lake George. He served in the state Assembly prior to being elected to the Senate in 2020.

The Conservative Party said in the coming days it will meet with Stec, as well as state Assemblyman Chris Tague and former congressional candidate Liz Joy.

“The Party could get behind any one of those three candidates, but Senator Stec remains the Party preference. The Conservative Party has informed GOP leaders that it hopes to work with them to advance one of these three. Discussions are ongoing,” Bill O’Reilly, spokesman for the party, said.

The Republican Party has yet to designate a candidate. Democrats have selected St. Lawrence County dairy farmer Blake Gendebien.

“This support is greatly appreciated, but by no means is the candidate selection process over,” Stec said in a statement. “In the days ahead I hope to earn the support of our excellent 15 GOP Chairs, Congresswoman Stefanik and President Donald J. Trump. Given the thin Republican Majority in the House, it’s imperative we retain this seat. I believe I am the candidate best suited to do that and I hope to make that case directly to our voters.”

Stefanik is expected to resign to become the next ambassador to the United Nations but has yet to leave her House position in a watch-and-see game with the state Legislature, which earlier this year introduced a bill that would allow the governor to delay congressional special elections until Election Day, which Republicans labeled as a pure political move, as it would directly impact this race, as a delay in the race until the June primaries or November general election would keep a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives narrow for longer.

The bill hasn’t moved forward at all and Stefanik has yet to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate for her new position, despite her confirmation hearing being over two months ago and facing no vocal opposition that would sink her nomination.

Under current state law, Gov. Hochul has to schedule a special election within 10 days from being notified of a vacancy, which then has to then take place within 80 days. Since Stefanik has yet to resign, there has been no notice of vacancy. In special elections for Congress in New York state, local party committees also choose their candidates.