Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics that Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple announced June 1 that he is ending his bid for state Senate. Apple's decision to withdraw leaves Republican state Assemblymember Jake Ashby and Democratic candidate Andrea Smythe as the two candidates in the newly drawn 43rd state Senate District election. In a post on Facebook, Apple, a Democrat, wrote he loves his job as the county sheriff and he will not make an endorsement going forward. "I never had aspirations for higher office, but with the support and encouragement I received from residents across the district I tried to convince myself this was the next step for me," Apple wrote "I hoped to be a voice for moderate voters who had felt they needed a stronger voice in New York. However, after exploring this opportunity, I’m drawn back to the goal I have always set for myself and my kids which is 'find a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.'" Apple rose to statewide stature last year after his office filed a forcible touching charge against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo denied the accusation, and Albany County District Attorney David Soares moved to have the case dismissed citing a lack of evidence. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.