Assemblyman Sean Ryan has decided not to run for the seat being vacated by State Senator Marc Panepinto.
The Buffalo Democrat says as a member of the majority in the Assembly he's been able to accomplish a lot of good things for Western New York.
"Moving over to the Senate would be very uncertain. There's been a long term power struggle going on in the Senate," Ryan explained.
"It really shows no sign of abating. We aren't sure how that's going to end, but we are sure the Assembly is going to stay in a Democratic majority."
Another concern is so-called "gray money," outside money that has become a key part of expensive Senate races.
"We're not really sure if it's (gray money) legal or illegal, but these races are not being decided by local, community interests," Ryan explained.
Last month, outside interests spent millions of dollars on a Long Island Senate race.
"If you jump into a Senate race, you have to jump in full well knowing that you are going to be part of this gray money process. And I choose not to be part of that process."