Though his name will appear on the ballot, Arthur Williams has dropped out of the race for the 6^th District seat in the North Carolina General Assembly.

Williams, in a brief interview Tuesday, said concerns with his wife’s health — she suffers with Parkinson’s disease — is the reason he dropped his bid to return to the state House. Williams, who filed for the seat last month as a Republican, once held the 6^th District seat as a Democrat. Republican Bill Cook defeated him in the 2010 general election. Cook is now the state senator from District 1.

“I told the Board of Elections … my wife’s health,” Williams said about his decision to drop out of the race.

“I got to thinking about it during the holidays. It was a family decision. At first she said, “Go ahead and do it,’ you know,” Williams said. “We got to talking about it as a family during Christmas and thought the best thing for me to do was withdraw.”

The Beaufort County Republican Party announced Williams’ withdrawal in an email.

“Beaufort County Republican Party Chairman, Keith Kidwell recently spoke with Mr. Williams about his decision. During that conversation Williams indicated that the decision was purely personal. He wishes both of the remaining candidates the best of luck with their races,” reads part of that email.

Williams missed the deadline to officially withdraw from the race and not have his name appear on the ballot, according to Scott Sheppard, an elections specialist with the Beaufort County Board of Elections. Sheppard said it’s his understanding that Williams is using word of mouth to let people know he dropped out of the race.

Williams’ withdrawal leaves two Republicans in the March 15 GOP primary for the 6^th District seat, now held by Paul Tine, an unaffiliated legislator who is not seeking re-election. Ashley Woolard, a Washington resident, and Beverly Boswell, a member of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, are seeking the GOP nomination for that seat. The district includes part of Beaufort County and all of Hyde, Dare and Washington counties.

Dare County Democrats Judy Justice and Warren Judge are seeking the Democratic nomination for the 6^th District seat being vacated by Tine.