In the end, Ruben Diaz Jr. decided it wasn't in the cards. In a message to supporters on Monday, the Bronx Borough President — a man once seen as a strong contender to become the city's first Latino mayor — announced he was bowing out of the race.

Diaz, first elected to public office at 22 years said, life in politics was over, saying he would opt to spend time with family and sit out the grueling work of running to become the city's chief executive. "This decision is final, and no length of additional time will change that," he said in a statement.

Fernando Ferrer, who ran for mayor in 2001 and 2005 could relate.

"I've walked in those shoes before. It's not easy, a very big city, a lot of people to reach, a lot to do," Ferrer said.

In his last bid for City Hall, Ferrer lost to incumbent Michael Bloomberg. Back then he was the hope for the city's Latino community -- to see one of their own take City Hall.

"At the end of the day all of that is important and requires an amazing amount of emotional stamina but then there is the fundraising, your friends and family doing all these sacrifices for you. I get how one day you say, I cant do it anymore," he said.

The scion of a political family, Diaz would have run for mayor just as his father -- the conservative Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. Is running for Congress. The threat of controversy always seemed to hang in the air. Diaz also struggled to gain traction among supporters outside his home base. The most recent campaign funding reports showed he has raised just under a million dollars.

With Diaz out of the race the political deck is now being reshuffled. It no longer includes a major Latino contender.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Comptroller Scott Stringer and Council Speaker Corey Johnson are now the three most prominent candidates seeking a mayoral run. Scott Stringer is leading the money race, with over $2.3 million dollars, followed by Adams and Johnson.

Bronx Borough President Diaz will serve out the remainder of his term which ends in 2021. He also plans to return every political donation he's received for his now canceled mayoral run.