Josh Lautenberg out of the Colorado HD 56 mix

Citing family and business priorities, Josh Lautenberg has pulled himself out of the running for Christine Scanlan's Colorado House District 56 seat.

Scanlan recently won reelection to State House District 56, but has been tapped by Governor-elect John Hickenlooper to serve on his leadership team. Scanlan, a Democrat from Summit County, will serve as Hickenlooper's director of legislative affairs and strategic initiatives.

The Summit Daily News reports that Eagle County's Lautenberg, who some in the party saw as a lead contender for the appointment, said he removed his name from the list of potential successors on Friday morning.

“I made a decision very quickly, feeling like I needed to,” he said. “The decision, I believe, was made prematurely. I've got this wonderful family and incredible wife and two young kids, 10 and 7 years old, and this fledgling real estate company that I took over not even a year ago. I have so many philanthropic and volunteer commitments in this valley that I just can't bring myself to give up.”