John Gregg Says No To 2016 Governor's Race

Staff Report -- TheStatehouseFile.com

Democrat John Gregg says he won’t be running for governor in 2016 and will focus instead on family issues.

Gregg – who lost to Republican Mike Pence in the governor’s race last year – had stayed on the political circuit after the election, attending events throughout the state.

But Gregg said on his Facebook page Tuesday that “despite the overwhelming support and encouragement to make another run,” he would no longer be actively seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.

“My intent had been to be our party’s candidate for the office of governor in 2016,” he said. “After all, we ran the closest governor’s election in over 50 years, coming within 2-1/2 percent, while being outspent 2-1/2 times. I believe that we would be victorious in 2016.”

But Gregg said “sometimes life events curb one’s focus.”

“I have always been about more than ‘politics,’” he said. “Over 10 years ago I stepped back from the political world and its demands to focus on my family. It was a great choice – and one I am making again today.”

Gregg was not specific about the reasons he wanted to focus on his family.

Photo by Lesley Weidenbener, The Statehouse File