AUGUSTA – Independent David John Jones told Maine election officials he’s dropping out of the race for governor, making him the second independent in a week to quit the Blaine House contest.

Jones requested in a letter received Tuesday by the secretary of state’s office that his name be removed from the Nov. 7 ballot, Deputy Secretary of State Doug Dunbar said.

Jones, who works in the construction industry and lives in Falmouth, was a longshot candidate in a race that has suddenly been trimmed from seven contestants to five.

Independent John Michael also said he’s withdrawing and will ask election officials to remove his name from the ballot.

“I’m out of it for all practical purposes,” Michael, a former legislator from Auburn who also ran for governor four years ago, said Tuesday. “You can consider the campaign over.”

Michael said last week he had stopped campaigning and abandoned his effort to secure public financing for his campaign. Jones’ campaign was privately funded.