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Idaho Candidate Withdraws After GOP Convention Spat

A Republican legislative candidate in northern Idaho says he is no longer running for a Senate seat after facing pressure from other GOP officials to pull out of the race.

John Freeland announced Tuesday he would no longer pursue challenging incumbent Sen. Dan Schmidt, a Democrat from Moscow, in the upcoming November election. He declined to comment further when contacted by The Associated Press.

Freeland accused three Latah County GOP officials of working to get Democratic candidates elected rather than Republicans in a Facebook post on Monday. Freeland says he was asked to withdraw from the race during the Idaho Republican convention over the weekend.

Latah County GOP Chairman Thomas Lawford denies demanding Freeland's resignation during the convention, but said he thought Freeland stepping down was the right choice.

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