(JTA) — South Dakota state Sen. Dan Lederman resigned in the middle of his term.

Lederman, a Republican who has served in the state Legislature for seven years,  said in a blog post on Monday that he would resign effective immediately in order to spend more time with his family.

“I’m proud to have served in the State Legislature for 7 years, accomplishing much for the people who sent me to represent them in both the House and the Senate.  I cherish the friendships I made, the opportunities for learning, and the good we were able to do,” Lederman wrote.

“But, I also have to balance that against the many nights and months my family was left at home, and my wife was forced to do double duty as a parent.  It’s balanced against every dance recital I missed for my young daughters.  Every parent/teacher conference.  Every opportunity to go fishing with my son.”

Lederman was last reelected to the state Senate in November and his resignation came as a surprise to his colleagues, the Sioux City Journal reported. His post did not discount running for public office again.

“He’s somebody who clearly could be governor, congressman, senator,” Matt Brooks, the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, told JTA in a 2011 interview. “He’s somebody who is totally committed to his constituents.”