Bestselling author J.D. Vance will not run in the Ohio Republican Senate primary despite encouragement from high-profile Republicans in past weeks.

Vance tweeted his decision on Friday, citing his family and his nonprofit work as key reasons why he skipped a bid.

"I am truly honored by everyone who encouraged me to run for senate this year," he said.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to run, but it’s just not a good time. A bit more color below. pic.twitter.com/5c1YYkPFcB — J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) January 19, 2018

He went on to note how he initially ruled out a bid in August because "the timing was awful for my young family," adding that not enough had changed since then to change his mind.

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"My nonprofit organization is on the verge of bringing an addiction specialist into Ohio to help fill some significant treatment gaps, and I've still got a family that needs more of my time than a political campaign would permit," he said.

"I'd rather focus on these things. So count me out of politics for now."

The decision came as Republicans race to reshape the Ohio field after GOP primary front-runner, state Treasurer Josh Mandel, ended his campaign earlier this month, citing his wife's illness. That briefly left businessman Mike Gibbons as the only candidate in the primary.

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But Rep. Jim Renacci James (Jim) B. RenacciOhio is suddenly a 2020 battleground Democrats fear Ohio slipping further away in 2020 Medicare for All won't deliver what Democrats promise MORE (R-Ohio) quickly moved from the gubernatorial primary to the Senate primary. And some Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Trump expects to nominate woman to replace Ginsburg next week Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral MORE (R-Ky.), spoke to Vance, the author of the bestseller "Hillbilly Elegy," about a potential bid, according to multiple reports.

Some have used Vance’s book about his life growing up in the Rust Belt as a means to understand the rise of President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE and the struggles facing the white working class.

Now Gibbons and Renacci are the top two candidates in the race to square off against Sen. Sherrod Brown Sherrod Campbell BrownBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Emboldened Democrats haggle over 2021 agenda Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election MORE (D) in the November general election. Republicans are bullish about their chances in the state after a strong 2016 cycle there, but Brown has served in elected office in Ohio for decades and has an overwhelming fundraising advantage.