Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn her bid for the US Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton.
Ms Kennedy, a member of the United States' storied political dynasty, cited personal reasons for the decision.
She was seeking to replace Hillary Clinton as a senator for New York. The former first lady surrendered her Senate seat when she became President Barack Obama's secretary of state.
Ms Kennedy's uncle, Senator Edward Kennedy, who has been diagnosed with brain cancer, suffered a seizure on inauguration day. The 76-year-old, with whom she is said to be close, was released from the hospital a day later.
Ms Kennedy (51), who has long guarded her privacy and never held public office, came under criticism for giving what some found to be vague or inarticulate answers in media interviews.
Some also questioned whether Ms Kennedy, who did not bother to vote in a number of elections, would be getting the seat solely because she carried the name of an American political dynasty.
But Ms Kennedy - an adviser in Obama's presidential campaign - had an number of big-name backers, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
She had been considered a front-runner for the seat once held by her uncle Robert Kennedy.
Her move leaves New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as the top candidate to succeed Mrs Clinton. Cuomo, the son of longtime New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Bill Clinton.
Another possible successor, Rep Carolyn Maloney of New York City, was named to lead the Joint Economic Committee, possibly signalling she was out of the running.
Reuters