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.”