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Nasheed drops out of St. Louis mayoral election

Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, announced Thursday night via social media she would drop out of the race for St. Louis mayor.

Nasheed said the decision came after much deliberation and out of a desire to serve the city at the statewide level.

“More than ever in our state’s history, we are beset with extreme right-wing forces that seek to undermine the will and the rights of the people,” Nasheed said in a statement. “I will remain unwavering and undaunted in my commitment to fighting this extremism by being a voice for the voiceless throughout our state.”

Nasheed filed to run in November after many speculated she would run when Mayor Francis Slay announced he would not seek re-election for a fifth four-year term. Her exit narrows the field to six Democratic candidates: Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed, St. Louis Board of Education member Bill Haas, City Treasurer Tishaura Jones, and Aldermen Lyda Crewson, Antonio French, and Jeffrey Boyd.

St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson initially planned to run, but he dropped out of the contest in November.

The senator won a re-election bid in November and, barring unforeseen circumstances, will serve as the 5th Senate District’s senator for another four years. Nasheed’s full comments on her decision to exit the mayoral race can be read below.