ST. PAUL — Mark Ritchie, the Minnesota secretary of state and elections chief who steered the state through contentious back-to-back recounts including U.S. Sen. Al Franken’s slim victory over Republican Norm Coleman, said Tuesday that he will not run for a third term next year.

Ritchie, a Democrat, said in a news release that he’ll leave office when his current term is done at the end of 2014. The 61-year-old said it was a difficult decision made after months of consideration and discussion with his family.

“I’ve concluded that January 2015 will be the right time for me to step aside and make way for the next generation of leadership in the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State,” Ritchie said. He touted accomplishments that include maintaining Minnesota’s tradition of the highest voter turnout in the nation, running the two recounts, and promoting Minnesota history and public service.

Ritchie won the seat in 2006 by beating incumbent Republican Mary Kiffmeyer. The open seat is sure to spark a competitive contest, as Republicans look for chances to break up the current Democratic dominance of statewide elected positions. Gov. Mark Dayton and Franken are both on the 2014 ballot. Dayton won his office following a recount in 2010 and Franken won his seat in the Senate after a 2008 recount.

One possible Democratic successor to Ritchie immediately launched her campaign. Rachel Larson Bohman of Rochester, a one-time elections official in both Anoka and Hennepin counties, said she will register her campaign on Thursday. Bohman previously worked in the secretary of state’s office under both Kiffmeyer and Democrat Joan Growe.

Republican Kent Kaiser, who had served as a deputy to Kiffmeyer, said Tuesday that he’ll consider running. Kiffmeyer herself, now a state senator, is considering a run for the 6th Congressional District seat recently vacated by Michele Bachmann.

Ritchie was a frequent target of Republican criticism, particularly during the 2008 recount, which dragged on into a lawsuit contesting the election results. Franken was finally seated the summer following the election after securing a 312-vote win. Ritchie also earned wrath from some Republicans for his opposition in 2011 and 2012 to the failed constitutional amendment that would have required a photo ID in order to cast a vote in Minnesota.

In addition to running elections, the secretary of state’s office is in charge of registration for all Minnesota businesses.

Previously a farm policy analyst, Ritchie, who lives in Minneapolis, was still new to politics when he ran in 2006. His main prior political experience was running a national voter turnout campaign in 2004.