The NFIB on Thursday is set to announce its political action committee's slate of endorsed candidates for state Assembly and the state Senate ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. 

All told, the small business group's PAC is endorsing 87 candidates, a mix of incumbents and challengers for the state Legislature this fall. The full list of endorsements can be found here.

And separately on Wednesday the group announced Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik in the North Country had received its nod for a fourth term.

The endorsements and political season come at a key time for small businesses in New York as the coronavirus pandemic has taken an especially difficult toll on small to mid-sized employers who have had difficulty absorbing the revenue losses created by the recession. 

“Across New York State, small businesses, and the local economies they support are on the brink,” said Greg Biryla, NFIB’s New York State Director. “The pandemic has literally forced storefronts to close in every community and every neighborhood without warning and has left local entrepreneurs with little ability to plan their business’s future."

NFIB's endorsements include two of its own members: Republicans Sen. George Borrello and Vito Bruno, who is running for a Brooklyn state Senate seat held by Democrat Andrew Gounardes. 

Beyond the pandemic's troubles, the group also wants to make business conditions better in the state, known for its comparatively higher taxes.

“The Empire State has proven a difficult place to start or grow a business for years, and that simply can’t continue," Biryla said. “To recover our economy and our way of life, lawmakers in both houses from both parties must prioritize real solutions to help struggling small businesses. The state legislative incumbents and candidates endorsed by NFIB’s NY PAC have demonstrated their commitment to the small businesses in their communities and will be champions for an economic recovery that starts on the Main Streets across our state.”