Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he won't run in upcoming party leadership race

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he will not berunning in the race to pick a new leader of his United Conservative party.

Kenney told his call-in radio show that if he was considering running, he would not be staying on as UCP leader until the new leader is chosen.

It was the first time Kenney took questions surrounding his surprise decision this week to step down despite winning a party leadership review.

Kenney captured just 51 per cent of the vote in the mail-in ballot of party members but said that's not enough of a mandate to remain in the top job.

The premier says he expected a higher support number based on conversations he had been having around the province, but admits he was actually a bit relieved when he saw the result. He says at 53 he is too young to retire but will now have time to pursue some personal things that he has had to put off for years.