Portune announced Friday evening he had decided not to challenge Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald in the Democratic primary this May.
A written statement sent to ideastream by a campaign spokesman said Portune had eyed former Jack Ford, a former Toledo mayor, as his lieutenant governor pick -- but that Portune had opted not to follow through with the bid.
"While we have concluded that we are unable to meet our goals for the state through the means of a gubernatorial race, we both look forward to continuing in our efforts to work for the betterment of the Ohio Democratic Party and for the State of Ohio in other ways than as candidates for statewide office," Portune said in the statement.
Portune had announced in December that he'd explore a bid for governor. Over the last month he made campaign stops across the state -- including in Northeast Ohio.