The Oscar-winner announced on his Instagram account on Sunday that elected office was a “path that I’m choosing not to take at this moment” and that he wants to focus on serving the people of his home state in ways other than pursuing public office.

In a video, McConaughey talked about the values of service and responsibility and problems in local and national politics. He said that while he had “been considering a run for the governor of Texas” he had been out “listening and been learning, been measuring and studying Texas politics and American politics,” in an attempt to understand the issues to make a decision on how best he could serve.

“As a simple kid born in the little town of Uvalde, Texas, it never occurred to me that I would one day be considered for political leadership. It’s a humbling and inspiring path to ponder. It is also a path that I’m choosing not to take at this moment,” McConaughey said.

The actor said he would “continue to work and invest the bounty I have by supporting entrepreneurs, businesses and foundations that I believe are leaders, establishments that I believe are creating pathways for people to succeed in life, organizations that have a mission to serve and build trust while also generating prosperity. That’s the American dream,” he added.

The move comes despite a Dallas Morning News poll this week showing he would beat Republican incumbent Greg Abbott by 8 points in a head-to-head matchup, and also trounce the Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke.

Likewise, a July survey by the University of Texas, Tyler, suggested 44 percent of Texans would vote for McConaughey in hypothetical election versus just 35 percent for Abbott, with 54 percent believing the state was “on the wrong track.”

McConaughey was facing state-mandated deadline of December 13 to decide whether to enter the race.

Local political experts had previously declared the actor stood a good chance of winning. “Traditional political folks will criticize him by saying that nobody knows where he stands,” Texas political consultant Keir Murray said in October. “But for a true outsider candidate, it’s actually advantageous. It’s a blank canvas to paint a candidacy, and it’s harder to be defined out of the gate — unlike Beto, who has a record of his positions.”