It's official.
Scott Lee Cohen will not be running for Lt. Governor of Illinois.
The embattled nominee and former pawn broker submitted a letter of resignation to state party officials Friday, ending his bid for the office.
"We didn't want this to continue through the weekend," said Cohen's spokesman, Baxter Swilley. "We gave it to the state party, and they will file it. We consider the matter closed."
Cohen, who shocked the party when he won the nomination, was forced to step aside over concerns that his shady past would hurt the governor's ticket in November.
The letter, which was turned over to Michael Madigan's office, will go to the state board of elections when it opens on Tuesday.
Now the Democrats can turn their attention to choosing a replacement, or, as Madigan has proposed, eliminating the office.
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