QUEENS — Scandal-tinged state Sen. Jose Peralta dropped out of the race for Queens Borough President and endorsed Melinda Katz, his office announced Friday.
"In the best interests of my campaign, my family and the Queens Democratic party, I am ending my bid for borough president effective immediately and will be supporting Melinda Katz,” Peralta said in a statement.
Katz, a former City Councilwoman, was endorsed by The Queens County Democratic Party. She also won the backing of Barry Grodenchik, deputy borough president, who dropped out of the race earlier this month.
In May, Peralta’s name came up among those secretly taped by ex-state Sen. Shirley Huntley last summer as part of an FBI probe.
Peralta, who represents Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, said he had not engaged in any wrongdoing and noted that he was not a target of a probe started by Huntley's wiretap.
The remaining candidates running for Queens Borough President include City Councilmen Leroy Comrie and Peter Vallone Jr., State Senator Tony Avella and a Republican candidate Aurelio “Tony” Arcabascio.