The area’s leading Democratic candidate for Congress will not run again. Alex Sink announced Tuesday that she is out of the race. Sink said she put a lot of thought into the decision but she is not ruling out a future in politics.

"I just decided that now is not the right time for me to run again,” said Alex Sink during an exclusive on camera interview with Bay News 9.

The decision comes a month after Sink was narrowly defeated by David Jolly in one of the most expensive Special Congressional elections.

"I gave them the time to be able to analyze those numbers,” said Sink of her party analysts. “And actually, the conclusion is, that a Democrat can win in November but for me, it was an emotional gut decision to spend more time with my family. My 90-year-old dad that everybody got to know and obviously, my two children."

Sink said she gave the race everything she had and is disappointed that it was not enough.

"Losing this election was a bitter disappointment for me because I felt so strongly that I was the best choice to carry the voices of our District to Washington,” said Sink.

Already, there is speculation over who will face Congressman David Jolly in November.

Bay News 9’s political analysts Ana Cruz and Chris Ingram have a few thoughts.

"A possible Janet Long for Congress, or a Charlie Justice, or a Ken Welch, or a Darden Rice for that matter,” said Cruz, a Democratic analyst. “You have some really amazing bench talent over in Pinellas County right now."

Ingram, a Republican analyst, suggested Jessica Earlich who ran against the late Congressman Bill Young two years ago.

As for Sink, she said she will support the nominee and she is open to a future in politics.

"Who knows what the future will hold,” she said. “It's a blank sheet of paper and I'm just going to listen to all sorts of opportunities to serve the people that I love in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties."

For now, Sink is keeping busy with her Florida Next Foundation which is sponsoring “Give Day Tampa Bay” on May6th.

Republican Congressman David Jolly released this statement saying, “I have great respect for Alex. I’m sure it was a difficult decision and I wish her the very best. I look forward to continuing my work in Congress on behalf of our Pinellas community.”

Below are statements from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

“I commend Alex Sink for her strong campaign, which truly reflected her career of passionate service to Florida’s families and I know she will continue to make significant contributions to her community. Pinellas residents have voted time and again for commonsense solutions instead of reckless partisanship, which is why we are confident our Democratic nominee can prevail on Election Day.

“In the last few weeks, Congressman David Jolly has become the latest face of the most reckless Republican Congress in modern history and he will be forced to campaign under the full weight of his party’s toxic brand in November: raising taxes on middle class families, ending the Medicare guarantee for seniors, and jeopardizing economic growth for businesses – all to give more to corporate special interests and the ultra-wealthy.” – DCCC Chairman Steve Israel

“Washington Democrats can’t even convince their die hard career politicians to walk the plank this November. It’s obvious that Alex Sink stood zero chance of beating David Jolly this November and her decision not to run only proves that the 2014 midterm elections are going to be extremely rough for Democrats across the country.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Katie Prill