LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska's outgoing Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood is bowing out of the governor's race less than a month after he declared he was running.

Flood said Thursday in a statement posted online that he is withdrawing from the 2014 race to care for his family because his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer this week.

Flood is a respected Republican lawmaker who helped broker compromises on difficult issues while leading the Legislature. But term limits are forcing him to leave office.

Current Gov. Dave Heineman cannot run in 2014 because of term limits. Republican Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy is running for the governor's job.