— Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder announced Friday afternoon he would end his month-long exploratory campaign to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Jason Smith.

In a statement, the three-term lieutenant governor said the decision was hard, but that after much thought and prayer he would not proceed.

“After much prayer and consideration, I have decided to end the month-long, exploratory phase on an 8th District congressional candidacy by forgoing a race in 2014,” he said in a statement.

He said his interest in the seat stemmed from the fact that voters really haven’t had the chance to vote in a real primary in the district in decades (Smith, for example, was chosen by a small group of party insiders earlier this year).

“Voters have had only one chance to choose their Member of Congress, in open primaries on both sides following an incumbent’s retirement — with plenty of notice to all — in the 68 years since the end of World War II,” he said.

For now, Smith remains unchallenged. In a statement , Missouri Republican Party Chairman Ed Martin praised Kinder for making a “statesman”-like decision.

“The leadership shown by his decision not to seek the Republican nomination in the Eighth District is a reminder of his dedication to party unity and growth through 2014 and beyond,” he said. “We will continue to see that dedication through his term as Lt. Governor.”