24-year-old Republican running for NY Senate suspends campaign after admitting to affair

A 24-year-old Republican candidate for the New York state Senate ended her campaign on Wednesday after admitting to having an affair and leaving her husband, Talking Points Memo reported.

"It was an excuse for an escape from an already declining marriage," Gia Arnold (pictured above) said in a post on her campaign's Facebook page. "I cannot regret the decisions I have made, but I can admit to being happier presently than before. It is for my ex husband, my children, my family and friends that I must publicly admit to my actions as I believe honesty and integrity are of utmost importance in life."

While she has stopped campaigning, Arnold said she would remain on the ballot in next month's Republican primary for the state's 62nd Senate district and campaign against Democratic Party candidate Johnny Destino if she wins.

The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reported that Arnold's primary campaign against North Tonawanda Mayor Rob Ortt (R) won the support of the conservative party in Orleans County, but not the New York state Republican Party.

Arnold said in her Facebook post that her remaining campaign appearances would be canceled, and funds from her campaign account would be donated to a charity determined by "majority vote" on the campaign page.

"My campaign was about integrity, so I made a decision to come clean and tell people," she told the Democrat & Chronicle.

The New York Daily News reported that the other person involved in the affair is an unidentified friend of Arnold's who was not working for her campaign.

[Image via Gia Arnold official campaign Facebook page]