WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — A former Democratic state House candidate in southeastern North Carolina will now run this fall for a Senate seat after the challenger to Republican Sen. Michael Lee dropped out.

New Hanover County Democratic activists chose Marcia Morgan last week as a replacement candidate for Jason Minnicozzi. The public defender and former assistant prosecutor had already announced his departure from the 7th Senate District race, citing campaign finance challenges.

News outlets reported a social media post had surfaced in which a woman accused him of using his defender's position improperly to obtain information to contact her. Minnicozzi hasn't responded to that allegation publicly.