Morning Read: Hoffman drops out of Assembly race

The Glens Falls Post-Star is reporting this morning that Lake Placid accountant Doug Hoffman has dropped out of the race for state Assembly.

According to the newspaper, Hoffman made the surprise announcement yesterday at a meeting of Warren County Republicans.

“We have to make sure we don’t split what’s going on here,” said Hoffman, who had received the Warren County Conservative endorsement earlier this week.

“I’m going to tell you right now, I’m going to back off and I’m going to let your candidate go,” he said at the conclusion of a speech, drawing a standing ovation from the approximately 105 committee members in the room.

County chairman Michael Grasso called the announcement a “jaw-dropper.”

Hoffman, who ran for congress in 2009 and 2010, was seen as a strong candidate for the Assembly seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward.

Still in the race for the GOP nod are Queensbury town supervisor Dan Stec, Thurman town supervisor Evelyn Wood, and former Glens Falls Mayor Robert Regan.

Top Democrat Randy Douglas from the town of Jay announced yesterday that he won’t seek the seat.

Tags: election12, politics