Steve Whan has pulled out of the Labor leadership race.
The Queanbeyan-based upper house MP made the decision to stand down after opposition environment spokesman Luke Foley entered the race.
"I obviously was keen to try and see us have a leader who came from regional NSW for the first time in nearly 50 years," Mr Whan told AAP.
"But it was clear once Luke Foley entered the race, after I spoke to a number of my colleagues again, that he was going to have a majority and I would not be able to get a majority. So I thought it was best in that case to withdraw from the race."
Mr Whan believes the caucus will back Mr Foley for the leadership position against fellow contender treasury spokesman Michael Daley.
"Michael will stay in it, he'll have support as well, but from everyone I've spoken to ... it seems Luke has a clear majority," Mr Whan said.
The opposition police spokesman said it was solely his decision to pull out of the race.
However, he had been pleasantly surprised at the positive reaction he had received from ALP members when he initially announced his candidacy.
"I certainly got very strong responses from rank and file members," he said.
"There was a lot of messages I got personally but I was even surprised last night to find somebody had set up a support page for me on Facebook and I knew nothing about it."
Mr Foley and Mr Daley are due to stand for Labor's leadership ballot on January 5.
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