Ex-Rep. Ed Case announced Sunday that he will not compete in the Democratic primary to take on newly elected GOP Rep. Charles Djou in Hawaii, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.

Case’s announcement, which received a standing ovation at the state Democratic convention in Waikiki, clears the field for Democratic state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa to challenge Djou in November.

Case refused to bow out of the May 22 special election to replace ex-Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D), who is running for governor. Case came in third behind Djou, who won the seat with about 40 percent of the vote, and Hanabusa.

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D), who strongly supported Hanabusa in the special election, praised Case for his decision, according to the Advertiser. “He showed that he was a Democrat,” Inouye said.

Hanabusa also praised Case at the convention, noting that he was making “a great sacrifice” for the party. The 1st district seat that Djou captured last week is considered prime Democratic territory and a likely seat to revert to the Democrats’ column in November.