The Alternative Press

Congressional hopeful Ed Potosnak has dropped his bid for office.

In an email to his supporters today, Potosnak announced he is no longer seeking office and will instead take a job as executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. His departure from the race means Republican incumbent Leonard Lance is for now running unopposed. 

When the 7th Congressional district was recently reconfigured, former Edison Mayor Jun Choi was redistricted out, putting an end to his bid for the seat. Supporters said with Choi gone, Potosnak had a clear shot at the Democratic nomination. He ran against Lance in 2010 and lost, 59-41 percent.

In the email notifying his supporters of his new plans, Potosnak called his job opportunity with the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters a "once in a lifetime opportunity."

"I am looking forward to being an integral part of shaping NJ's environmental policies to ensure our children have clean water and air as well as open space," he said in the email. "I am truly humbled and extremely grateful for your support and the outpouring of support from our community."

Potosnak said his new position will allow him to build on the grass roots energy of their diverse membership and promote non-partisan solutions to the state's environmental challenges "in a time when politics, particularly national politics, are becoming increasingly polarized and hyper-partisan."