A reception dinner was held Tuesday at the Garden City Hotel to welcome the New York State Republican Convention to Long Island for the first time in more than three decades.

The convention, last held on Long Island in 1974, will officially begin Wednesday at Hofstra University. Two native Long Islanders, former State Assemblyman John Faso and former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, are vying to oppose Democratic nominee Attorney General Eliot Spitzer for governor. Former Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro will run on the GOP ticket for state attorney general and K.T. McFarland will face incumbent Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Senate race.

Officials say the Republican designations for attorney general and the Senate will be announced Wednesday. The nominations for comptroller, lieutenant governor and governor are expected Thursday.