Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini has withdrawn from the race for Florida’s 11th Congressional District, ending a campaign that became closely tied to his legal challenge of Florida’s resign-to-run law.

Sabatini announced his decision on Friday, the last day of the qualifying period, citing concerns about the impact his resignation would have on Lake County and endorsing fellow Lake County Republican Carey Baker to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster.

“While it would’ve been an honor to serve our great community in Congress, today I’m withdrawing from the race for FL-11,” Sabatini wrote in a campaign update.

Sabatini said his decision was based on two factors. First, qualifying for Congress would have required him to immediately give up his District 1 seat on the Lake County Commission under Florida’s resign-to-run law.

“It would be irresponsible to do so because there’s too much on the line for Lake County,” Sabatini wrote, adding that his commission seat would likely be filled by appointment.

Sabatini had challenged the law in federal court, arguing it was unconstitutional. In a previous lawsuit, he claimed the law violated both the Qualifications Clause of the U.S. Constitution and Article X, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution. However, he said the legal challenge could not be fully resolved before the congressional qualifying period.

“We filed a lawsuit to strike down the unconstitutional ‘resign to run’ law but unfortunately it was too late for a challenge to be fully heard and decided on the merits before the qualifying date,” he wrote.

Sabatini’s second reason for leaving the race centered on Baker’s late entry into the contest.

“Carey Baker and I would’ve split too many votes within our home of Lake County to be competitive in the larger primary race,” Sabatini says.

Instead, Sabatini urged his supporters to back Baker, a former member of both the Florida House and Senate who later served nearly two decades as Lake County’s property appraiser.

“We have not had a true Lake County leader represent our district in Congress since Syd Herlong in the 1960s,” Sabatini says. “Therefore I’m asking all of my supporters to get behind Carey Baker for U.S. Congress.”

Baker, a longtime Eustis resident, has built his campaign around his military service, conservative legislative record, work as Lake County property appraiser and ownership of A.W. Peterson Gun Shop. His campaign says he is seeking to continue Webster’s conservative legacy in Congress.

District 11 includes Lake and Sumter counties as well as portions of Orange County. The seat is being vacated by Webster, who announced he will not seek re-election.

Despite ending his congressional campaign, Sabatini indicated he intends to remain active in public service and continue serving on the Lake County Commission.

“Thank you to all of my patriotic supporters and friends who helped us along the way and knocked on thousands of doors,” Sabatini wrote. “I will continue to fight for our County, State and Nation — this is not the end, but only the beginning.”