Former Evan Bayh chief-of-staff Tom Sugar will not run for governor in 2016, he announced Monday.
Sugar, who founded the Lead or Leave redistricting reform organization, posted his decision to Facebook Monday afternoon.
Sugar said while many encouraged him to run for governor, he could not do so as president of his organization, but was "unwilling to work anywhere my employment would be traded for some future favoritism as a governor."
He also claimed Indiana Democrats weren't supportive of his campaign:
At the same time, the Indiana Democratic Party and many of its key financial supporters did all they could to discourage my campaign, fearing a primary challenge to John Gregg. I believe this is wrongheaded and hope to live long enough to see the day when Hoosier Democrats begin to behave like winners, confident enough to welcome new leaders, new energy and new ideas. Sadly, it doesn’t appear this will be the case in 2016.
Therefore, it is with heartfelt gratitude for all of the words of encouragement and pledges of support, but with equal disappointment – I must announce that it will not be possible for me to be a candidate for governor of Indiana.
Sugar said he plans to continue advocating for redistricting reform.
"However, one thing that does not end today is my full and enduring commitment to fix our broken government," he wrote. "The fight must go on until the politics come out! Gerrymandering must be made illegal. Legislative districts must be based on where people live – not how they vote."
