Booth said Tuesday that she made her decision to drop out of the race so that voters "aren't distracted by issues not related to the important issues to this district."

"Maybe now is just not the time. I'll look for opportunities in the future and stay involved in good public policy," she said.

Booth, running to replace retiring Rep. Roz McGee in an affluent east-side Salt Lake City neighborhood, had amassed a long list of endorsements, including members of the Salt Lake County Council, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, and state legislators, and was the likely favorite to win the nomination.

But recently she had been answering questions about her relationship with Steven Maese, her former fiancé and co-owner of The Doll House escort service charged with operating a prostitution ring.

Booth told The Tribune last week that, despite their year-long relationship, engagement and efforts to launch a business with Maese, she did not learn of the "full nature of his involvement" in The Doll House until a couple of weeks ago.

When she found out, she said that she broke off the engagement and is "heartbroken" by the events.

But questions persisted, and Booth said she decided over the weekend that it would be best for the district if she stepped aside.

"It's my belief that the best thing for District 28 and the Democratic Party right now is to return a focus to the bread-and-butter issues that people talk about at their tables at dinner, and my hope is that we can get back to that," she said.

Booth announced her decision in a meeting Tuesday morning with party leaders, her Democratic opponent Brian King, State Sen. Ross Romero and attorney Pat Shea. She said in no way was she pressured to step aside.

"Absolutely not. I initiated those meetings to talk about what I felt was best for District 28, to preserve Roz McGee's legacy and Democratic values and a return to the focus on the issues," she said.

King said that Booth faced a difficult choice and did what she thought was right.

"I admire that. It took a lot of courage to do what she did," he said.

"I think it's unfortunate that the circumstances came together in a way they did to put her in the situation she's in, but she indicated to me that she's supporting me and I appreciate that very much."

With the nomination sure to be his in Saturday's Salt Lake County Democratic Convention, King will go on to face Republican Jeffrey Morrow in the general election.

Booth and Maese met in early 2007 and dated for about a year before she announced the engagement on her campaign blog, a posting that was removed last week.

When Booth announced her candidacy for office in February, Maese's cell phone was listed as the campaign's contact number.

About that same time, the couple tried to start a business to offer certified nursing assistant training to high school students.

During the past legislative session, Booth said that she put an attorney in touch with lobbyist Steve Barth to advocate for the repeal of the so-called stripper tax, a 10 percent tax on escorts and strip clubs.

Booth said she had no other involvement in the effort and didn't know about Maese's past involvement in the industry.

Barth's lobbyist disclosure, however, lists Booth's law offices as his client. The tax repeal effort failed.