Republican in NY 23 resigns from leadership role

ALBANY -- A Republican state assemblywoman who endorsed a Democrat after pulling out of a special congressional election in upstate New York earlier this month has resigned from her position as Assembly minority whip.

Republican Assembly minority leader Brian Kolb says Dierdre Scozzafava offered her resignation Monday.

Democrat Bill Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Scozzafava in the heavily Republican, rural 23rd Congressional District. Scozzafava abruptly withdrew the weekend before the Nov. 3 election and supported Owens over Hoffman.

Kolb says he'll select someone to replace Scozzafava in leading Assembly floor debates in the coming weeks.
Scozzafava didn't immediately return a call for comment.

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