By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - A state senator from the suburbs has abandoned his bid to become Pennsylvania’s next attorney general.

Republican State Senator John Rafferty has suspended his campaign for attorney general after Governor Corbett endorsed his only opponent for the GOP nomination, Cumberland County DA David Freed.

In a statement released late Wednesday, Rafferty said he respects the governor’s role as titular head of the state party, and says he likes Freed, who Rafferty says has compiled a “strong record” as a suburban Harrisburg district attorney. A new attorney general will be elected in November to succeed Linda Kelly, who agreed not to run when she was appointed to succeed Governor Corbett.

Rafferty will remain in the state Senate where he is chairman of the Transportation Committee.