Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick formally announced Thursday that he wouldn’t pursue the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, citing concerns about the cruelty of the U.S. electoral process.
“After a lot of conversation, reflection and prayer, I’ve decided that a 2020 campaign for president is not for me. I’ve been overwhelmed by advice and encouragement from people from all over the country, known and unknown. Humbled, in fact,” Patrick, the 62-year-old two-term governor, wrote on Facebook. “But knowing that the cruelty of our elections process would ultimately splash back on people whom Diane and I love, but who hadn’t signed up for the journey, was more than I could ask.”
[Opinion: Power Rankings: Deval’s out! Biden’s on top!]
Patrick, a Bain Capital managing director and Bill Clinton Justice Department alumnus, was an outspoken surrogate for Democratic candidates on the 2018 midterm election campaign trail. He also reportedly met with former President Barack Obama and Obama administration veterans to discuss the prospect of a 2020 tilt at the White House.
Patrick indicated Thursday morning in an interview with NPR affiliate WBUR that the health of Diane, his wife of 34 years, was a major consideration in his political calculus. She was recently diagnosed with Stage 1 uterine cancer and underwent a successful surgery prior to Thanksgiving, he told the radio station.
Diane was diagnosed with stage 1 uterine cancer – she’s had surgery and will be fine, says Patrick. “Her prognosis is excellent. We thank God and the doctors at MGH for that.”
— WBUR (@WBUR) December 6, 2018
Patrick’s formal announcement follows a Politico report earlier this week the Harvard-educated lawyer was informing his closest allies, some of whom had set up a political action committee over the summer to support his potential candidacy, that he had decided not to run for president in 2020.
