State Sen. Kwame Raoul will not run for governor, the Chicago Democrat announced late this afternoon.

In a statement, Mr. Raoul said he realizes that many voters are seeking an alternative to incumbent Pat Quinn and his main Democratic challenger, former White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley. "I did not take lightly the calls for me to join this race and provide voters with another option," he said.

In the end, however, Mr. Raoul said he decided that he needed to focus on his current job, heading a legislative conference committee seeking a deal on comprehensive pension reform, "and that I must carry out to best of my abilities until the job is done."

The decision by Mr. Raoul, who holds the mid-South Side seat once held by President Barack Obama, likely is a boon for Mr. Quinn, whose political base is concentrated among minority voters.