SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle has conceded defeat in the race for her district in upstate New York.

The one-term Republican was beaten by Democrat Dan Maffei in the race for the 24th Congressional District seat, outside Syracuse, on Tuesday.

Buerkle said in a news conference Friday that she wanted all the votes to be in before she conceded.

Unofficial returns showed her more than 12,000 votes behind. Buerkle said she didn't expect to overcome the gap with absentee and affidavit ballots.

She also said she didn't want an undecided race to overshadow Veterans Day.

The victory is a comeback for Maffei, who was tossed out of Congress in 2010 when Buerkle defeated him by only 648 votes.