Former Alaska legislator Zach Fansler has officially dropped out of the race for Democratic primary for House District 38.

Fansler sent a letter to Division of Elections dated June 3 and it was received on June 14.

In the letter, Fansler said, “I wish to withdraw from the 2018 Democratic primary election for Alaska State House District 38.”

On Tuesday, the Alaska Division of Elections list was updated to reflect that Fansler had withdrawn from the race.

On Thursday, Fansler is expected to be arraigned in Dimond Courthouse in downtown Juneau on charges of second degree harassment, a class B misdemeanor, after he allegedly assaulted a Juneau woman in January. The woman said Fansler slapped her so hard it ruptured her eardrum. According to Assistant Attorney General Maria Bahr, Fansler plans to plead guilty to the charge.

In December 2017, Fansler had filed a letter of intent for re-election in December and submitted his name to the Division of Elections. Fansler resigned from the Legislature in early February.