AUGUSTA – Secretary of State Dan Gwadosky said Monday he would not be a candidate in the 2nd District congressional race.

Gwadosky, 47, a Democrat, never formally announced he was a candidate. But he formed an exploratory committee last winter, and spent four months touring the district and meeting with businesses and individuals to determine what kind of support he’d have.

His decision still leaves 10 people – six Democrats and four Republicans – who have either declared their candidacies or are seriously exploring the race. The incumbent, U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, a Democrat, is stepping down to run for governor.

Gwadosky said he decided against running because the time wasn’t right for his family.

“Our son, Josh, 18, just graduated from high school,” Gwadosky said. “One look at him in the cap and gown crystallized it for me.”

Gwadosky and his wife, Cheryl, were active in their son’s Lawrence High School activities and want to do the same for their daughter, Jessica, 14. She will be a freshman this fall.

Before becoming secretary of state, Gwadosky was the speaker of the House and majority leader for House Democrats. He said he was interested in running for Congress because “open seats don’t come around very often.”

Gwadosky, who lives in Fairfield, has mailed letters to supporters explaining his decision and thanking them for their support. He pledged to help support the Democratic candidate who emerges as the winner from the June primary.

Those candidates are: state Sen. John Nutting of Leeds; Lewiston Mayor Kaleigh Tara; state Sen. Susan Longley of Liberty; Pat McGowan of Bangor; former state Sen. Sean Faircloth of Bangor; and state Senate President Michael Michaud.

Republicans are state Rep. Stavros Mendros of Lewiston; Kevin Raye of Bangor; former legislator Richard Campbell of Houlton and former Bangor Mayor Tim Woodcock.