MINNEAPOLIS — A former Democratic state lawmaker has dropped out of the race for Minnesota secretary of state.

Jeremy Kalin of Minneapolis made that announcement on his Facebook page Friday.

Kalin cites his growing consulting business and his concern about spending so much time away from his wife and 2-year-old twins.

Kalin served in the Minnesota House for two terms, leaving after the 2010 election to become an energy consultant.

The contest is without an incumbent because two-term Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is stepping down after the 2014 election.

Democratic state Reps. Steve Simon of Hopkins and Debra Hilstrom of Brooklyn Center are running for secretary of state. Another Democratic candidate, veteran elections administrator Rachel Larson Bohman, earlier dropped out of the race.

No Republicans have officially joined the race.