Newsom, 42, who last month became a father for the first time, said in a statement released by the mayor's office that he did not have the time to devote to a campaign for the governor's office.
"With a young family and responsibilities at City Hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to -- and should be -- done," Newsom said.
Newsom's withdrawal leaves state Attorney General Jerry Brown, a former governor, as the leading Democratic candidate in the 2010 race -- though Brown has not yet formally announced his candidacy.
Meg Whitman, the former chief executive of eBay, is the leading Republican candidate in the race to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is not eligible to run again because of California's term-limits law.
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"With a young family and responsibilities at City Hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to -- and should be -- done," Newsom said.
Newsom's withdrawal leaves state Attorney General Jerry Brown, a former governor, as the leading Democratic candidate in the 2010 race -- though Brown has not yet formally announced his candidacy.
Meg Whitman, the former chief executive of eBay, is the leading Republican candidate in the race to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is not eligible to run again because of California's term-limits law.
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