Ford will not run for Senate seat in New York

After several months of keeping his plans to run for the U.S. Senate shrouded, Harold Ford, Jr. officially announced Monday that he would not run against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in November.

Ford, a former Tennessee congressman, is currently a visiting professor at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and is teaching a course called "Policy Formation: U.S. Domestic Policy."

Ford made his announcement in a New York Times article; he wrote, "I've examined this race in every possible way, and I keep returning to the same fundamental conclusion: If I run, the likely result would be a brutal and highly negative Democratic primary — a primary where the winner emerges weakened and the Republican strengthened."

Ford was considered to be a controversial candidate because of his conservative leanings and recent position changes on issues including gay rights and abortion.

At press time, Ford was unable to comment on his decision or his future at NYU.