A Republican North Carolina judge who launched an unprecedented effort to overturn his unofficial loss in a state Supreme Court race is dropping his challenge to the results.

The Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat conceded last November's election on Wednesday to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs, two days after a federal judge ruled that potentially thousands of disputed ballots challenged by Jefferson Griffin must remain in the final tally.

A federal judge has ordered the results of North Carolina’s Supreme Court race to be certified, in a ruling that, if upheld, would wrap up an election that had drawn out for months after a challenge over the eligibility of thousands of ballots.