Matthew McConaughey says he will not run for Texas governor

• Actor, 52: A path I'm choosing not to take at this moment'
• Beto and the Spanish name game in the Texas governor race

The actor Matthew McConaughey will not run for Texas governor, removing one potential obstacle from the path of Beto O'Rourke, the former Democratic congressman and candidate for Senate and president now seeking to defeat the Republican Greg Abbott.

McConaughey, 52 and the star of Free State of Jones, Dallas Buyers Club (for which he won an Oscar), Magic Mike, many other movies and the HBO smash True Detective, had long been reported to be on the verge of running, potentially as an independent.