Though he ran a tight race in the Hudson Valley Senate district against Republican incumbent Greg Ball, Democrat Justin Wagner is conceding this morning.

Wagner, a Democrat, had not given up after the Nov. 6 election, but today concluded that the absentee ballot count won’t make up the difference between himself and Ball.

Though the race had not been officially called, it had seemed unlikely that Wagner would have made up the difference against Ball in the absentee ballot count and was not considered one of the unresolved races after Election Day.

“I want to congratulate Senator Ball on a hard-fought victory in this election and wish him the best in representing our community. While absentee ballots are still being counted, information from the Board of Elections indicates that the number of outstanding ballots does not give me a realistic path to victory, and I do not think a protracted litigation would best serve the interests of the Hudson Valley.

And Wagner, responding to a tweet from Ball, is taking him up on an offer to have a beer and bury the political hatchet.

“Let’s do it at a great Hudson Valley local business like the Peekskill Brewery. First round is on me!”

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