Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou said Tuesday that she would not run on the Working Families Party ballot line against Dan Goldman in November, sparing him a rematch after he narrowly beat her in last month's Democratic primary in New York's 10th Congressional District.
"I will not be on the WFP line for the general," Niou, a 39-year-old progressive, said in a seven-minute video in which she also conceded the Aug. 23 primary. "We simply do not have the resources to fight all fights at the same time, and we must protect our democracy now."
Our campaign grew because our strength came from our people. I'm proud of what the @nywfp and I accomplished together. This is just the beginning. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!! ?? pic.twitter.com/U4E3XmQGij
Goldman, a former federal prosecutor who led the first Trump impeachment case, is now all but certain to roll through the general election in the deep-blue district, which spans Lower Manhattan and portions of brownstone Brooklyn.
The coalition that almost sent Niou to victory would commit its efforts to "ensure that we retain Democratic majorities in Congress" that will "deliver on what the majority of Americans need and want," she said.
Sochie Nnaemeka, the director of the New York Working Families Party, said in a statement that Niou's decision came after "careful deliberation" between the candidate and the party. The Working Families Party supported her campaign in the primary.
The progressive party and Niou had appeared to carefully consider another challenge to Goldman.
But the exact contours of the talks - or who made the final decision - were not immediately clear.
The outcome is expected to spare local liberals a major struggle in a critical midterm season.
Dan Goldman, former Trump prosecutor, wins race in NY-10 Congressional District
The ultrawealthy Goldman, 46, campaigned in the primary as a Trump antagonist, while Niou ran on a local issue-oriented, left-wing platform - and on a much smaller budget. Goldman, heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune, spent millions from his own wallet on his campaign.
Niou lost by about 2 percentage points, according to the city Board of Elections.
The district, long held by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, was redrawn this year.
Rep. Mondaire Jones is off the Working Families Party ballot in NY-10 general election, adding intrigue to Dan Goldman race