Wake Democrat drops out of NC House race after 11 days

The replacement Democratic candidate for a Wake County seat in the North Carolina House dropped out of the race Tuesday night, 11 days after local Democrats picked him for the ballot.

Zach Padget, an assistant attorney general in the state Department of Justice, said in a Facebook post that "after much soul searching, I have decided that now is not the time for me to run for office."

"My young family and my career demand my undivided attention and are paramount in my priorities at this time," he said. "As such, I will be withdrawing my candidacy for NC House District 34."

Padget's Facebook post was not publicly available Tuesday night, but a source sent it to WRAL News and Padget confirmed its authenticity via text message.

County executive committee members from the district plan to meet Monday to select a new candidate, according to Wake County Democratic Party Chair Kevyn Creech. There are at least two candidates interested so far, Creech said Wednesday, with more expected.

The local party has already selected former Wake County Commissioner Jack Nichols to finish Martin's current term, which runs through the end of the year. Monday's meeting will focus on the party's candidate in November.

Whoever the party selects will face Republican Ashley Seshul and Libertarian Kat McDonald in the general election in District 34, which leans heavily toward Democrats.