Citing disgust with the two-party system and the influence of money and special interests in politics, former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb said Tuesday he is dropping out of the Democratic race for president and will weigh his options moving forward. 

Webb said he still holds “strong views” about the direction of the country and will continue to play a role in the election, but would not change his views to reflect a certain party.

“Americans are disgusted by all this talk of Republicans and Democrats calling each other the enemy instead of reaching across the aisle and finding ways to work together,” Webb said at a press conference Tuesday.

The decision comes just a week after the first Democratic presidential debate. 

Webb said he thought the debate was “rigged” and that he did not receive enough time.

Webb was also scheduled to appear at the Iowa Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner this Saturday in Des Moines, but his campaign announced late Monday that he would not longer attend. Webb’s campaign called the Tuesday press conference and said Webb would discuss running as an independent.

“I am not going away,” he said. “ I am thinking through all of my options.”

Webb, the former one-term senator from Virginia, served as Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan and fought in the Vietnam War.

“I love this country, and all that it has allowed me to achieve over the span of my life,” Webb said. “I always have and always will put country above political party or personal ambition.”