Sen. Slade Blackwell's surprise late entry into the Alabama governor's race was short-lived.

Alabama Republican Party spokeswoman Katie Lansford said the Mountain Brook senator withdrew from the race today.

Blackwell could not be reached for comment today.

His withdrawal leaves five candidates for the Republican primary - Gov. Kay Ivey, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, evangelist Scott Dawson of Birmingham, Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile and Michael McAllister of Troy.

The primary is June 5.

Blackwell had initially said he planned to run for another term in his Senate district, but signed up to run for governor on Friday instead. Friday was the qualifying deadline for the Republican and Democratic parties.

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox are running for the Democratic nomination.

Other Democrats who qualified for the race are James Fields of Cullman, Christopher A. Countryman, Doug "New Blue" Smith and Anthony White.