WATCH: Azaroff drops out of Vancouver mayoral race

OneCity's William Azaroff has ended his mayoral campaign, paving the way for the Greens' Pete Fry to lead the progressive coalition against Mayor Ken Sim.

Azaroff made the announcement during a press conference outside City Hall on Tuesday following days of back and forth between his team and Fry's.

"Over the past few days, I've reflected on all those conversations — all that listening — and I thought a lot about the commitment that OneCity and I made to you all, that only one progressive candidate will be on the ballot in this election," Azaroff said. "So today, I'm keeping that promise and I've decided to end my campaign for mayor of Vancouver."

He called on his OneCity team and their fellow progressives at COPE and the Greens to keep on fighting against Sim and ABC in his wake.

Azaroff went on to explain that he knew in his heart last Thursday that it was time to drop out, but that his brain decided on Monday.

Throughout Azaroff speech, he and his team were visibly emotional. OneCity council candidate Frances Bula shed a tear as she stood at the mic reflecting on her time working with him.

Azaroff noted that no matter which way he went, he would be "letting some people down."

Fry thanked him for making the decision he did, calling it "courageous."

"We are united in our values — Stephanie and COPE, William and OneCity, me and the Greens," he said. "We share a lot of the same values, and we are united in the sense that we do need to get rid of Ken Sim.”

The election will be held on October 17.