Less than two months after tossing his hat in the ring for next year’s state treasurer race, former Republican congressional candidate Nic Morse pulled it back out on Wednesday.

“I have decided to drop out of the 2018 Treasurer’s race,” Morse said in a statement. “After talking with my wife, pastor and political advisers, it isn’t the right time for me to run again. Other opportunities politically and professionally have presented themselves and I am going to see those through before I run for office again.”

Morse came up short in his bid challenging U.S. Rep. Jared Polis in November, falling about 20 points behind the incumbent Democrat. The marketing executive served as treasurer of the Larimer County Republican Party and said in December he was planning a run for state treasurer, which will be an open seat in 2018 because Republican Walker Stapleton faces term limits.

Morse, who was encouraged to run for the statewide post by Trump campaign veterans, told The Colorado Statesman that he’d been putting his campaign together but simply decided that other opportunities beckoned. He suggested that he might run for office again in the future.

While no other state treasurer candidates have announced yet, the GOP primary could be a crowded race. Among the potential candidates: state Rep. Justin Everett, R-Littleton, Arapahoe County businessman and former legislative candidate Brian Watson, Republican National Committeeman and former congressional candidate George Leing, Routt County Treasurer and Public Trustee Brita Horn and Arapahoe County Republican Rich Sokol. Democrats say no names have yet emerged for their party’s potential nominees.

– ernest@coloradostatesman.com