BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- With the official announcement that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom will run for Lieutenant Governor, Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) says he will exit the race and offer his full support to Newsom’s campaign.

Calling himself “pragmatic enough to recognize that politics is unpredictable,” Florez conceded that a Newsom lead would be difficult for any candidate to surmount. He now plans to focus his efforts on helping elect qualified candidates committed to moving California forward.

Florez specifically singled out the campaigns of Jerry Brown, Newsom and Kamala Harris.

In a letter announcing his decision to supporters, Florez said, “While it hurts to undo so much hard work, I’m not embittered about this predicament…. In the same spirit that you helped me, I am going to help other candidates win and together we will continue to fight for a better California.”

In addition to the comments in his letter to his supporters, Florez called Gavin Newsom a “bright star in a State needing a new point of reference.”

Florez is a Harvard-educated MBA who has been a leader in the fight for air quality, consumer protections, farm worker rights, government oversight and compassionate treatment of both farm and companion animals. He is in the final year of his second term in the California State Senate.

In his final term, Florez will continue his fight against childhood obesity and diabetes, as well as his efforts to prevent animal abuse.

“It has been an honor to serve in the Legislature for a decade,” Florez said. “I look forward to continuing to make California a better place for my children.”

Here is a letter issued by Dean Florez to his supporters.

Dear Friends and Supporters:

I wanted to share with you, first hand, some news regarding my campaign for California's Lieutenant Governor.

First, let me express my deepest gratitude for your support, words of encouragement and friendship throughout this very challenging effort.

As an African proverb says, “when the music changes, so must the dance.” Well, the music has changed, and sadly so has the dance.

As of today, I am concluding my campaign for Lieutenant Governor and my name will not appear on the ballot this June.

While it hurts to undo so much hard work, I'm not embittered about this predicament. I am pragmatic enough to recognize that politics is unpredictable.

As much as I want to be Lieutenant Governor, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's entry into this contest has dramatically altered the dynamics of the race. I've studied the numbers, looked at the possibilities, and considered all the relevant polling information which indicates that he commands a formidable lead that would be hard to surmount.

For all its faults, I still love my party, the campaign trail, the folks who work day in and day out to help us get elected and the many people I met during this astonishing effort. Make no mistake; I want to see our party succeed in the upcoming election.

I am now going to turn my efforts to finishing my last year in the Senate, take my resources and put them toward helping win back the governorship, and look for opportunities to help other candidates qualified and committed to moving California in a positive direction this fall.

Just know that in the same spirit that you helped me, I am going to help other candidates win and together we will continue to fight for a better California.

That's why I also hope that you will consider joining me in supporting statewide change candidates like Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and others who represent a fresh generation of Californians ready to take bold action to turn this great state around.

Again, from the deepest part of my heart, I truly cherish the friendship and generosity you have shown me throughout this campaign effort. I am blessed with genuinely remarkable friends.

Dean Florez