Holtzman Will Not Run for Senate in N. Y.

Brooklyn Dist. Atty. Elizabeth Holtzman, a liberal Democrat, announced Friday that she will not run in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by Alfonse M. D’Amato (R-N. Y.).

The decision, which came as a surprise to political observers here, leaves the Democratic field wide open for Geraldine A. Ferraro, the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 1984, if she should decide to run.

Ferraro repeatedly has indicated interest in the 1986 race but said last week that she would not announce her plans until she had discussed them with her family during the Thanksgiving holiday. “I have a feeling they will all be for it,” she said.

Called Ferraro

Holtzman said she called Ferraro early Friday to announce her intentions. “She paused and said, ‘Let’s have lunch and talk more,’ ” Holtzman said.

Holtzman said she had decided not to run because D’Amato has a growing campaign war chest of nearly $5 million. She predicted that the Republican incumbent probably would raise $10 million. “The interest alone on his war chest could finance Senate campaigns in other states,” she said.

Holtzman, a former member of Congress, ran against D’Amato in 1980 but lost by less than 1% in a three-way race. She easily won reelection as Brooklyn district attorney last week but had begun campaigning across the state in recent months and had been widely expected to run for the Senate seat.