State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, has decided to drop out of the race to replace U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce in Congress.

Several sources confirmed that Cervantes called his closest supporters Friday to tell them he is dropping out of the race, citing primarily family considerations. Cervantes couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

The sources didn’t know whether Cervantes plans to seek re-election to his state House seat. The treasurer for his previous House campaigns, New Mexico State University professor Jose Garcia, had already announced that he would seek to replace Cervantes in the House.

Cervantes lives in the state Senate district of Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, and could also challenge him.

Cervantes joined in mid November a crowded field for the Democratic Party’s nomination that includes retired Presbyterian pastor Al Kissling, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, Roswell businessman and retired teacher Frank McKinnon and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague. The race for the Republican nomination is even more crowded, with four candidates already announced and at least five others seriously considering it.

Cervantes has openly sought for years to balance public service with family. He has three daughters – one in elementary school, one in middle school and one in high school – and the sources said that, after traveling the district campaigning for weeks and watching Congress stay in session several weeks longer than planned this year, he decided to drop out.

I’ll have more on this next week.