Tea party firebrand Allen West is finally giving up his fight to remain in Congress.
West says in a statement Tuesday morning that he's conceding the race to Democrat Patrick Murphy, two weeks after Election Day.
Murphy has held the lead in the race since the wee hours of election night, but West's campaign has relentlessly questioned the voting results in District 18. After several appearances in court and two partial recounts in St. Lucie County, West says his fight is over.
He leaves Washington as 1 of the best-known figures of the tea party movement who made a mark with fiery speeches, fundraising prowess and a knack for off-the-cuff comments that have roused people of all political persuasions.
Murphy is a 29-year-old political newcomer.
