Rick Lazio is picking up the backing of former state GOP chair Joe Mondello this afternoon on Long Island, as he continues to try to push to be the party’s standardbearer this fall.

Mondello is still the Nassau County chair, and the endorsement comes despite a request from current chairman Ed Cox to county leaders to hold off on endorsing as he scours for another candidate, sources said.

Cox has been trying to recruit Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, a Democrat, to flip to the R line and run for governor.

Cox and Levy aides’ refusal to confirm the overtures has continued, despite several people acknowledging the meetings are taking place.