Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco on Friday announced he is giving up the leadership post as he await the absentee ballot counting process to unfold in his bid to become a U.S. congressman.

Tedisco issued a press release announcing the move, saying he was confident he will prevail in his bid to fill the congressional vacancy left by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to the Senate by Gov. David Paterson earlier this year.

Tedisco, a Republican, said he wanted to help the Assembly minority conference move forward.

The Times-Union newspaper in Albany, however, reported in today's edition that Tedisco was facing a hostile takeover by other members of his conference on Monday if he did not resign, and that the assemblyman who will be taking over the top post is Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua.

Kolb, the second-highest ranking Republican in the Assembly, represents portions of Cayuga County.