SALEM, Ore. — Citing family health concerns, Republican state Sen. Jason Atkinson on Wednesday suspended his campaign for Oregon governor.

The southern Oregon lawmaker said that both he and his wife, Stephanie, have been “confronted with some serious health concerns.”

Atkinson did not go into details.

However, Atkinson is still recovering from an accidental shooting in 2008 that nearly killed him and severely damaged his leg. In the same year, Stephanie Atkinson was treated for thyroid cancer.

Two other Republicans are running for governor — businessman Allen Alley and former legislator John Lim. Former Portland Trail Blazers center Chris Dudley and state Senator Frank Morse of Albany are considering running as well.

In a brief statement Wednesday, Atkinson left open the question of whether he would re-enter the race at some point.

“I am not going away, but need time with my family,” Atkinson said.

The 38-year-old lawmaker was making a second bid for governor, finishing third in the 2006 GOP primary election. Atkinson has solid ties within the base of the Republican Party and picked up a loyal group of backers in his 2006 GOP nomination bid.

He has said in recent interviews that he’s been in constant pain as a result of the accident in which he was shot in the leg while working in his garage on a friend’s bicycle.

Atkinson detached a small cloth bag from the bicycle that, unbeknown to him, held a two-shot, .38-caliber derringer. The gun went off when he dropped the bag on the floor.

Police said Stephanie Atkinson spared her husband more serious injury when she found him bleeding on the garage floor and used a bicycle tube as a tourniquet to staunch the bleeding.

Oregon GOP Chairman Bob Tiernan issued a statement Wednesday wishing the couple well.

“Sen. Atkinson is a leader in the Republican Party and I am confident that he will continue to make significant contributions to the Republican cause through next year and beyond,” Tiernan said.