Park Ridge resident Kelly Schaefer dropped out of the 55th House District race on Wednesday and said she is throwing her support behind Susan Sweeney, the other Republican write-in candidate running for the position, according to a news release.

“A write-in campaign is a very difficult proposition for one candidate, let alone two candidates competing from the same community,” Schaefer said in the release. “I felt it was in the best interest of the Republican Party and its voters that we unite to assure that we come away with a new nominee on March 20th.”

Her withdrawal paves the way for a race between Sweeney and Democratic contender Marty Moylan, mayor of Des Plaines, in the November election. Sweeney, of Park Ridge, needs 500 votes in order to advance to the general election.

In the release, Schaefer said she told Sweeney this week about her withdrawal. Schaefer added she is still considering some kind of role in public office after receiving support from the community.

“But for right now, I’m going to do what I can to help Susan secure the nomination on March 20th so we can bring new principled leadership to Springfield and get our state back on track,” she said.

Longtime lawmaker Rosemary Mulligan, R-Des Plaines, announced last week she will not seek re-election in the newly-drawn 55th House District, which covers portion of Des Plaines, Park Ridge and Elk Grove Village. First elected in 1992, Mulligan had planned on running as a write-in candidate after an election judge ruled she didn’t have enough signatures to appear on the March ballot.

If Sweeney can’t garner 500 votes, the township committeeman with the most weighted vote picks a candidate for the November election. Mulligan is the Maine Township Republican committeeman and has the most weighted vote.