JAMESTOWN – U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) has dropped her election bid New York’s 23rd seat, this as the field of GOP candidates grows to seven.

Tenney, who late Friday night announced on Twitter she is now seeking election for the newly re-drawn 24th Congressional District, was among the pool of Republicans running to succeed Congressman Tom Reed who did not seek re-election this fall. Reed unexpectedly resigned last week, taking a new position at a political advocacy group.

In the wake of Tenney’s news, Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) announced he is throwing his hat in the ring for NY-23. In a statement on Saturday he said the newly re-drawn maps will likely connect to communities he already serves.

“Many of these communities I have been honored to represent in Congress and previously in the New York State Senate and as Erie County Clerk,” wrote Jacobs. “I look forward to getting to know new communities throughout the Southern Tier, and I am committed to being out and about in each and every community, continuing my track record of working effectively with localities.”

Jacobs isn’t the only new candidate seeking election. On Friday afternoon, Fredonia native Marc Cenedella joined the field of candidates as well.

“New Yorkers here need a real representative in Congress, not one who chases the convenience of an easy reelection campaign,” wrote Cenedella in a statement. “I’m a political outsider who has worked for decades to help Americans improve their lives, their incomes, and their careers.”

This bring the total number of GOP candidates to seven, with Jamestown area resident Rich Moon, Hugh Bahar, George Burns, Raymond Juliano and George Phillips already running.

The GOP primary winner will face Max Della Pia, former Senate Liaison Officer for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, who is the lone Democratic nominee for New York’s 23rd Congressional District.

There is still a lot of uncertainty about what the final maps will look like, with the new Democrat-drawn congressional maps deemed unconstitutional by New York’s high court, which found the maps violated an anti-gerrymandering constitutional amendment.

A state judge, and an independent expert, are now drawing up replacement congressional and state Senate maps. As a result, the primary election for the two races has been pushed to Aug. 23.