Torrance Unified school board member Al Muratsuchi has decided this week not to run for next year's 53rd Assembly District race in order to spend more time with his family.
Muratsuchi announced his intention to campaign earlier this year.
"As a new father and as a husband, on top of my responsibilities as Torrance School Board president and a state prosecutor, I have not been able to devote the time necessary to run a campaign that I can be proud of," said Muratsuchi, 44. "As much as I want to fight for change in Sacramento, my first responsibility is to my family."
Betsy Butler, a top fundraiser for Consumer Attorneys of California who has secured top nominations, is the frontrunner to replace Assemblyman Ted Lieu, even though the election has not yet begun. Manhattan Beach Councilman Mitch Ward and Jim Aldinger, a former Manhattan Beach city councilman who is also Butler's ex-boyfriend, also said they will seek the seat.
Earlier this year, Muratsuchi, who works as a deputy attorney general, was struggling to collect enough campaign donations to be viable in the race.
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