Sona Mehring, a political newcomer who founded the CaringBridge website, won national attention this month earlier this month when she said she would challenge Republican U.S. Rep. John Kline.
Now, just three weeks into a run, the Democrat says she is dropping out of the race.
"The level of enthusiasm and people's confidence in me was humbling," she said in a statement. "However, I realize my true passion still was with CaringBridge... I came to the tough conclusion that my work with CaringBridge was not done and I needed to end my candidacy for Congress."
Mehring said in early April that she had stepped down from CaringBridge, which helps people who are ailing connect with their loved ones, to run for Congress. Now, she will return.
She said she will return any campaign contribution she has received.
Her departure leaves, for now, the Democratic race against Kline to Mike Obermueller, a former state representative who challenged Kline last year.
In the weeks since Mehring first said she would run, Kline decided he would run for re-election. He had previously left open the possibility that he would make a bid for Minnesota governor against Democrat Mark Dayton or U.S. Senate against Al Franken.
