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Pierre Poilievre has announced he will not be making a bid to lead the Conservative party.

The longtime Ontario MP wrote in a series of tweets Thursday afternoon that he had been building a team to prepare for a possible run to replace Andrew Scheer, but was abandoning those plans for family reasons.

1:27 Pierre Poilievre decides not to seek Conservative leadership Pierre Poilievre decides not to seek Conservative leadership

READ MORE: Rona Ambrose announces she will not run for Conservative leadership

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“In criss-crossing the country, I have been overwhelmed with the favourable response,” he wrote. “I knew it would be hard on my family life to do this. But I did not realize how hard.

“It is harder still because I had just spent the earlier 18 months campaigning furiously to win back my seat in the recent federal election, I mostly missed the 1st year of our baby’s life.”

Poilievre said that his “heart is not fully engaged” in the leadership race.

Post from @PierrePoilievre’s wife on the decision to not run for leadership of CPC #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/PF8BzTgbwL — Mike Le Couteur (@mikelecouteur) January 23, 2020

One source said campaign staff close to Poilievre started to notice he appeared torn about running over the last three weeks — concerned about the impact on his family, especially his 14-month-old daughter.

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Those feelings escalated in recent days according to sources on the campaign, who said it became clear Poilievre was seriously considering not running.

Campaign staff frantically tried to convince him to stick with his bid to no avail, sources said. Poilievre began making phone calls to say he would not run on Thursday morning.

4:29 Rona Ambrose not running in Conservative leadership race Rona Ambrose not running in Conservative leadership race

Conservative sources both inside and outside Poilievre’s camp said he had the cash and organization to run a successful campaign.

One source said he had strong caucus support and many on his campaign believed he was the front-runner with a strong chance of winning the race.

On Thursday evening, some of Poilievre’s supporters told Global News they understood his decision but were disappointed and shocked nonetheless.

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READ MORE: Former Quebec premier Jean Charest will not seek Conservative leadership

The Conservatives are poised to name a new leader in Toronto on June 27.

A senior Conservative source expressed concern about the state of the race so far, noting Poilievre is the third high-profile Tory who has recently decided against pursuing the leadership.

5:42 Choosing the next leader of the federal Conservatives Choosing the next leader of the federal Conservatives

On Tuesday, former Quebec premier Jean Charest revealed he will not be joining the race.

Former cabinet minister Rona Ambrose announced Wednesday that she too was out.

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“I want to thank you for all your messages of encouragement and support to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada,” she wrote a statement accompanying a video message. “It is humbling to be considered at all — because I love our party, I love the people in it and I love our country,”

The senior Conservative source said the leadership contest is shaping up to be a battle between Peter MacKay and MP Erin O’Toole, with MacKay believed to be the favourite to win.

O’Toole has not yet declared whether he would pursue a leadership bid.

4:29 Rona Ambrose not running in Conservative leadership race Rona Ambrose not running in Conservative leadership race

MacKay, a former MP who served as justice and defence minister under Stephen Harper, has entered the race, as well as Marilyn Gladu, who has represented a riding in Southwestern Ontario since 2015. She is currently the party’s critic for the health portfolio.

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Rookie Conservative MP Derek Sloan, only just elected in the fall, has also said he will run, as has Rick Peterson, an Alberta businessman.

Scheer announced he would step down in December after weeks of speculation about his political future after the Liberals were re-elected to a minority in the October election.

–With files from Mercedes Stephenson and Amanda Connolly, Global News

"Over the last several weeks, I have been building a team and support for a possible run for the conservative leadership. In criss-crossing the country, I have been overwhelmed with the favourable response. — Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 23, 2020

As such, my heart is not fully engaged in this leadership race. Without being all in, I cannot be in at all. So I have decided not to seek the leadership of the party at this time. — Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 23, 2020

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I will continue serving the people of Carleton in Parliament. I am not currently supporting any other candidate. But I will be looking for a strong fiscal conservative who will unleash free enterprise so people can achieve their dreams through hard work. — Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) January 23, 2020