The Democrat challenging Republican U.S. Rep. John Katko in a battleground district in central New York conceded the race Friday.

Dana Balter said in a statement that after several days of absentee ballots being counted, it was clear she had no path forward.

�Today, I congratulate Congressman Katko on his victory and hope that in his next term, he will advocate for policies that will help working families in this district,� she wrote.

Katko, a 57-year-old former federal prosecutor, has held a wide lead over Balter since Election Day, but The Associated Press has not called the race because of a lack of publicly available information about the count of absentee ballots.

If his win is confirmed, Katko will get a fourth term after defeating Balter for the second time. She also ran against Katko and lost in 2018, even though Democrats narrowly outnumber Republicans in New York�s 24th Congressional District.

Katko said it was �an honor and a privilege� to represent the district.

�I am especially humbled by the resounding support our campaign received across party lines. Now, more than ever, our nation needs members of Congress willing to work across the aisle to deliver,� he said.

Katko has tried to cultivate an independent brand to reflect the nature of the swing district that includes Syracuse. But he also endorsed President Donald Trump�s reelection bid after declining to do so in 2016.

Balter, 44, has worked as a community organizer and at a disability services nonprofit but has not held public office.

The candidates differed sharply on health care. Balter advocated for keeping and improving the Affordable Care Act while transitioning to a �Medicare for All� system. Katko wants to repeal the act known as Obamacare, but not until the GOP comes up with a viable replacement.

(AP)