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Virginia Del. Rob Bell unexpectedly ended his campaign for attorney general Monday with an announcement that leaves Republicans with two candidates for the office who have little statewide name recognition.

Bell, R-Albemarle, was the only elected GOP officeholder in the field seeking to take on Democratic Attorney General Mark R. Herring next year.

In a statement, Bell said his duties as a father to two young children, one of whom has special needs, outweighed his ambitions for higher office.

“This school year has brought significant new challenges that require my personal and immediate attention,” Bell said. “Despite my best efforts, it has become clear to me that I can’t possibly fulfill my responsibilities as a father while making a statewide run.”

A 49-year-old lawyer and former prosecutor, Bell has served in the House of Delegates since 2002 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for attorney general in 2013.