A former state senator has dropped his appeal of a lawsuit in which he sought a new election in a coastal state Senate seat.

Former Sen. Scottie Cuevas, a three-term incumbent from Pass Christian, had lost the August 7 Democratic primary to challenger David Baria by 36 votes in Senate District 46, which includes all of Hancock County and a part of Harrison County. Baria won the November general election.

Cuevas had argued there were numerous irregularities during the election and the vote count.

In October, a trial judge dismissed Cuevas’ lawsuit saying the irregularities cited were harmless.

Cuevas said Tuesday he dropped his appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court because continuing the legal battle would be too costly.