Texas Governor Rick Perry Says He Will Not Seek Re-Election

Rick Perry, Texas’ longest-serving governor, announced Monday that he will not seek re-election.

Speaking at a news conferencea in San Antonio, Perry said “The time has come to pass on the mantle of leadership.”

Some are now speculating that Perry is eyeing another presidential run, but the governor has not officially announced any such plans and says his attention is now focused primarily on the current special session of the Texas Legislature. Perry has been highly critical of last month’s filibuster which prevented the passage of a strict new abortion measure and prompted him to call for a new session.

The two candidates most likely to seek election to the governor’s office seem to be Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot. Abbot has not officially announced plans to run for the office, but has been releasing promotional material and raising campaign funds.