 Ford seriously considered leaving the Senate and running for governor again in 1983 and 1991 , but decided against it both times . In the 1983 contest , he would have faced sitting lieutenant governor Martha Layne Collins in the primary . Collins was a factional ally of Ford 's , which influenced his decision . In 1991 , Ford cited his seniority in the Senate and desire to become Democratic Senate whip as factors in his decision not to run for governor . 
