Doug Hoffman, the conservative turned de facto Republican nominee in last fall’s special election in New York’s 23rd district, conceded defeat Thursday in last week’s closely fought GOP primary against businessman Matt Doheny. But in the next breath, he announced that he would pursue a bid as a Conservative Party candidate and had secured a place on the ballot.

The three-way race will be a repeat of last fall’s special election, when a divided Republican Party enabled now-Rep. Bill Owens (D) to win in a district that had been in GOP hands for more than a century.

“Over the past few days I have thought long and hard about the next six weeks,” Hoffman wrote in a message to supporters. “I have spoken with family, friends, supporters and staff as I have weighed my next step. So today, with new resolve and a strong commitment to conservative principles, I rededicate myself to this race and announce that I will actively campaign for Congress as the nominee of the Conservative Party.”