State assembly member Mike Norris, R-Lockport, confirmed Wednesday night that he will accept nominations to run for a state supreme court justice post in the 8th Judicial District. Norris was nominated by the Republican, Democratic and Conservative parties during the state judicial nominating convention Wednesday.
With his acceptance of the nomination, Norris also confirmed in a Facebook post that he’s dropping out of the race in the 144th Assembly District.
“It was not an easy decision as I have truly enjoyed serving as a member of the New York Assembly,” he said in the post, adding that he thinks he’ll have a “greater impact” as a justice than as an assembly member.
Norris was elected to the assembly in November 2016 and re-elected three times to two-year terms of office.
Former Lockport mayor Michelle Roman, the Democratic candidate in the 144th district, issued a statement Thursday congratulating Norris on his court nomination. “It has been a pleasure collaborating with Assemblyman Norris on various projects, constituent issues, and advocating for our community together,” she said.
In the assembly contest, the Republican and Conservative party chairs in Niagara and Erie counties will decide who replaces Norris on the ballot, according to Rich Andres, Niagara County Republican Committee chair.