Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), shown with Gov. Chris Christie in this 2010 file photo, announced today he will not seek to challenge Christie. Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger

TRENTON — State Senate President Stephen Sweeney today declined to run for governor, becoming the latest in a string of high-profile Democrats who have chosen not to seek his party’s nomination to run against the popular Republican, Gov. Chris Christie.

State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), who today will be endorsed by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th Dist.), is the only major Democrat who has announced a candidacy.

“After careful consideration and much deliberation, I will not be a candidate for governor in 2013,” Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said in a statement. “ I've decided my work now needs to be focused on ensuring the Legislature remains in Democratic control.”

“For over a decade New Jersey voters have ensured we have a strong Democratic majority in both houses and I view it as absolutely essential and my job to keep that streak going. We will,” he said.

State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) announced Friday he would not run. And Newark Mayor Cory Booker — who Democrats felt gave them their best shot against Christie — said last month he intended to run for U.S. Senate in 2014 instead.