CHICAGO (AP) -- The Illinois Democrat who won the primary for lieutenant governor only to withdraw amid scandal allegations says he now wants to be governor.

Scott Lee Cohen says he'll collect signatures to run as an independent for governor.

Cohen says everybody makes mistakes and everybody is entitled to a second chance.

He quit the lieutenant governor's race amid accusations of failure to pay child support and holding a knife to his girlfriend's throat.

To get on the Illinois ballot, Cohen will need to submit 25,000 signatures from registered voters on petitions by June 21.

If Cohen succeeds, he'll face Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, Republican state Sen. Bill Brady and Green Party candidate Rich Whitney.

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