(AP) — Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning says his cancer diagnosis last year has led him to reconsider a run for governor.

Bruning said Thursday that he has consulted with family and friends about joining the 2014 Republican primary race. Bruning underwent surgery for colon cancer in December and has since been declared cancer-free.

Bruning had previously announced plans to seek re-election, but he says the cancer scare led him to re-evaluate his priorities in life. He says he also has received numerous phone calls and text messages asking him to look at the race.

The 44-year-old has until the Feb. 18 filing deadline to enter the six-way GOP race to replace Gov. Dave Heineman. If he runs, Bruning would enter the race with immediate statewide name recognition.