WASHINGTON — Former Astros pitcher Roger Clemens reportedly shot down Republican attempts to recruit him to run in a Fort Bend congressional race that is expected to be one of the most closely contested in the state.

ESPN first reported that Republicans had sought to tap the pitching legend, who now works as a special assistant to the team’s general manager, to run in the district held by U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, who announced his plans to retire last month.

Clemens, however, declined. "The climate in politics at this time is much more than I would want to undertake, along with my family considerations," he wrote in a message to Olson, according to ESPN.

"I am a Republican and I support our President and will continue to do so," Clemens said, according to the ESPN report. "No matter who our President may be, I will continue my support of them and root for them to be successful, just as I did when President Obama was in office.

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When asked for a copy of the message, Olson’s office responded: “We do not share personal correspondence from Rep. Olson with the media. We are not commenting on this story.”

Clemens would have been the second Republican to enter the race, after Greg Hill, a former Brazoria County judge and Pearland city councilman.

Democrats have targeted the district — one of the fastest growing and most rapidly diversifying in the nation — as one to flip in 2020 after Sri Kulkarni came within 5 points of beating Olson in 2018.

ben.wermund@chron.com