Bill Thompson will concede to Bill de Blasio Tuesday morning in New York, eliminating the need for a second-round of voting to determine who will be the Democratic party nominee, a virtual shoo-in to succeed Michael Bloomberg as mayor of the city.
Unofficially, de Blasio already does not need a second round contest because the vote tally gives him 0.3 percent more than the 40 percent needed for a decisive victory, but a recount could change the tally. Thompson was in second place but won only 26.2 percent of the vote.
Thompson will endorse de Blasio at City Hall at 11 a.m. (EDT), according to the Associated Press, quoting anonymous sources. De Blasio will face Republican party candidate Joe Lhota in the general election November 5.
In unofficial returns with 99 percent of precincts reporting, de Blasio had had 40.3 percent of the vote — slightly more than the 40 percent threshold needed to win outright. Thompson was at 26.2 percent.