Tommy Thompson announces he will not enter Wisconsin's governor race

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Tommy Thompson has announced he won't be seeking a run for governor against Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers, sources confirm to CBS 58.

Thompson, Wisconsin's longest serving Republican governor, said he won't run again in the already crowded Republican field of candidates seeking to unseat Gov. Evers in the fall.

After much deliberation, sources tell CBS 58 Thompson decided not to enter the race after meeting with prominent Republicans including former President Donald Trump.

The 80-year-old recently visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort along with GOP-mega donor Diane Hendricks and former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus to discuss his possible bid.

Those in the race include former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, Kevin Nicholson, and state Rep. Tim Ramthun.

Trump has not formally endorsed any of the Republican candidates in the race but has praised Ramthun for his efforts to decertify the 2020 election, a move that legal experts and nonpartisan attorneys say is impossible.