(Richmond, Va.) — A Republican lawmaker and close friend of Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam says he believes the governor will remain in office based on their frequent conversations.

State Sen. Richard Stuart told The Associated Press that he speaks daily to Northam and talked to him on Tuesday.

Stuart said he believes the governor won’t resign after Northam told him he felt responsibility to stay in office and make amends. He said the governor told him that he doesn’t intend to run away from the problem.

Stuart said that he “firmly” believes the governor “is going to do what is right and face this head on.”

Northam hasn’t publicly said which way he’s leaning amid calls to resign over a racist photo that appeared on his 1984 medical school yearbook page.

Stuart and Northam entered the Senate together in 2008.