Former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke speaks at a Times Free Press in this file photo.

NASHVILLE - Former Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke this week pulled papers to challenge Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell in her state House District 56 seat this fall.

But Tuke said late Wednesday afternoon that after additional thought, he will "almost certainly not" run against Harwell.

The filing deadline for candidates is noon Thursday.

Tuke said he got papers to run for the seat from the Davidson County Election Commission on Tuesday "because time was running out, and I was seriously contemplating it."

The former party chairman said, "I like Beth personally ... but I've been so really disgusted with the way this Republican General Assembly has behaved this term."

But after thinking it over further, he said, "right now my decision is not to do it."

Harwell's district includes a number of liberal-leaning neighborhoods and her voting on gun issues sometimes reflects that, sometimes putting her at odds with tea party conservatives.