Chris Hewitt, who represents Wawarsing and Rochester in the Ulster County Legislature, has dropped his bid to make the leap to state senate.

Hewitt, a Democrat, collected signatures to run for the District 51 seat which is currently held by Peter Oberacker, who himself has announced he’ll be running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Hewitt would be a part of the Democratic primaries to be held this June, but a procedural error cut the run short.

Hewitt’s petition to get on the ballot received signatures from independent and Republican voters, which was not allowed as petitions for the primary elections only accept registered Democrats. Lacking the signatures, he stepped down. However, in a press release, Hewitt said that the campaign “gave him an even deeper appreciation for the people of District 51 and the strength of the region’s communities.”

“My commitment to the people of Ulster County has not changed. I will continue serving as your legislator, fighting for the issues that matter most here at home — affordability, environmental protection, community investment, and a local economy that works for everyone,” Hewitt said.

Hewitt endorsed Michelle Frazier and said that he is “more determined than ever to keep showing up, listening, and delivering for the people who put their trust in me.”