HONOLULU -- Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz on Thursday announced he is dropping out of the race for Honolulu mayor to run for the state Senate instead.

Dela Cruz is term limited in his current seat. He had been campaigning for the mayoral race with signs up in many places.

"Today, I've made one of the most difficult personal political decisions that I've ever been faced with," Dela Cruz said on his campaign website. "While my desire to serve the public remains, my mayoral campaign does not have the necessary funds to allow me to spread my vision for the City and County of Honolulu. Looking at this mayoral race realistically, and being honest with myself and my supporters, I have decided to take a different path."

Dela Cruz on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the vacant state Senate District 22 seat as a Democrat. Sen. Robert Bunda resigned so he could run for lieutenant governor.

The move by Dela Cruz leaves former Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, acting mayor Kirk Caldwell and University of Hawaii professor Panos Prevedouros in the race for Honolulu mayor.