INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -
Democrat Evan Bayh, a former governor and U.S. senator, said Friday he won’t
make a run in 2016 for a return to Indiana’s top office.
Bayh said in a
statement that he has decided not to run for governor, after seriously
considering it.
“I hope that my
decision will enable others to step forward and offer their ideas for making
Indiana an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” Bayh said.
Bayh, who was
governor from 1989 to 1997, had previously said factors he was considering
included the strong Republican hold on the state Legislature and whether his
style of leadership would be effective.
Bayh, 59, retired
from the Senate in 2010 after easily winning election for two terms. His
campaign fund still had nearly $10 million in it at the end of June.
His discussion of
possibly returning to Indiana and run for governor had put other possible
Democratic candidates in limbo. Former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg, who
lost a narrow race to Republican Gov. Mike Pence in 2012, and Hammond Mayor
Tom McDermott have discussed seeking the 2016 Democratic nomination.
Bayh had said he
put off discussions with his wife about whether to leave Washington to
re-enter Indiana politics until after his twin sons left to start college
last month.
“I remain committed
to helping Hoosiers and the state I love,” Bayh said in his statement.
“There are many ways to help people and serve the public, and I look forward
to pursuing them in the days and years to come.”