Champagne, Clark say they won't run to replace Trudeau as sources say Freeland, Gould to launch leadership bids this week

Christy Clark and François-Philippe Champagne announced Tuesday that they will not run in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. These announcements come alongside news that senior Liberals Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould and Mark Carney are expected to announce within the week their plans to run for the leadership.

Christy Clark and François-Philippe Champagne announced Tuesday that they will not run in the race to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

These announcements come alongside news that senior Liberals Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould and Mark Carney are expected to announce within the week their plans to run for the leadership.

Sources tell CTV News that Clark, the former premier of B.C. and first woman elected to that position, was "emotional" telling her core team about her decision on a conference call.

"I have made the difficult decision to step back," Clark wrote in an email sent to her supporters.

"While we have come a long way, in a short time, there is simply not enough time to mount a successful campaign and for me to effectively connect with Francophone Canadians in their language," she also wrote. "I have worked hard at improving my French but it's not where it needs to be, today."

Clark told her team she was not running because other teams had well over a year to organize and she did not see a path for herself, facing a shorter runway to organize and campaign.

Clark had expressed interest in running for the leadership, but has faced criticism for walking back claims about whether or not she joined the Conservative party three years ago to vote in its leadership race.