Cafero, who represents the 142nd District and is also the House Republican leader, made the announcement during a news conference at the state Capitol in Hartford.
He cited family concerns and the potentially grueling nature of a campaign among his reasons for not pursuing the Republican Party's nomination. He followed up on his press conference with statement to his constituents on his Twitter account.
"I have decided that I will not be a candidate for governor in 2014," he wrote.
Known for gregarious nature and political acumen, Cafero has been a popular political figure both in his Norwalk/New Canaan district and Hartford for years. He could have been a strong candidate for the Republican nomination to face incumbent Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy.
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