BREAKING NEWS: Governor Kitzhaber has announced his resignation as governor of the state of Oregon. 

In a press release he issued at noon, the governor stated, "It is not in my nature to walk away from a job I have undertaken – it is to stand and fight for the cause. For that reason I apologize to all those people who gave of their faith, time, energy and resources to elect me to a fourth term last year and who have supported me over the past three decades."

The person next in line to be governor is Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown. She announced on Wednesday after being called back to Oregon from Washington D.C. by the governor that she and her staff are ready to step in.

Both Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek have asked Kitzhaber to step down in recent days.