After 5-Hour Campaign, Ga. Rapper Says He’s Not Running For State Rep, After All

Five hours after announcing Monday that he would be running for a seat in the Georgia General Assembly, rapper Killer Mike was forced to withdraw his unofficial bid.

The rapper, whose real name is Michael Render, made his initial announcement on Instagram with a photo asking for votes and boasting the slogan: “If I win We Win.”

“In Atlanta Georgia there will be special election tomorrow for District 55,” Render wrote in the caption. “I would like as many people as possible to go to the polls and write in Michael Render.”

In Atlanta Georgia there will be special election tomorrow for District 55. Former state representative Tyrone Brooks no longer sits in the seat. I would like as many people as possible to go to the polls and write in Michael Render. Why because if I win we win. Thank you now go vote

A photo posted by Killer Mike (@killermikegto) on Jun 15, 2015 at 1:13pm PDT

While his announcement received support, Render was informed via social media that he couldn’t be a write-in candidate without filing required forms.

Render was then forced to take back his announced candidacy to be a state representative in Georgia’s 55th House district in another Instagram post.

I can’t run BUT For the folks that were willing to Write in #MichaelRender Thank U so Much. I am gonna run one day and WE WILL WIN. However in Ga I wud have to officially enter as a “write in” vs being an Actual Write in (those are the breaks) but, I really felt it important to draw attention to this race. We have BIG Problems in education, schools and prison reform in Ga and I I wanna see change. I wanna see Yall active in Local politics. The fact that ya’ll are willing to support me shows change is possible and while I run around rapping with @thereallyrealelp doing #RunTheJewels for the next few yrs I want ya’ll to get & stay active and Run for office! We need more New and fresh ideas & people! Now Tomorrow yall choose between two sisters, a Junior & a white indie (really republican and I’m cool with that too if he does the job so give him a look) I suggest yall Google them read up tonight and GO VOTE tomorrow! I will Run In the Future and We Will Win! Love and Respect Michael Render #Vote #District55 #TomorrowInGeorgia #DontWriteMeInYet #IwannaKeepRapping #MyWifeStillLikesStripClubs #MyOGwantMeToRunDoe #GetAvtive #ChangePolitics #ISeeICanRunAndIWillOneDay #ThankYall make sure yall watch me on #TheNightlyShow with Larry Wilmore at 11:30 est. #GoVote

A video posted by Killer Mike (@killermikegto) on Jun 15, 2015 at 5:52pm PDT

The rapper encouraged people to vote even if they couldn’t vote for him. In his post, he stressed that people “get & stay active and Run for office!” He also hinted at a possible future run saying: “I will run in the future and we will win!”

Render, who is based in Atlanta, is a member of the hip hop group Run the Jewels.

h/t CNN