Katrina Hodgkinson, the Nationals’ Candidate for Whitlam, has pulled out of the race less than a week into the election campaign.

Ms Hodgkinson said when the Nationals asked her to run for Whitlam “it was the last thing on my mind as I was engaged in a variety of other roles” but she eventually agreed, announcing her candidacy in February.

“Since then, it has become clear that the campaign for Whitlam will be between the Labor and Liberal parties, and I want to do everything I can to help enable a change of this seat and the whole of government to the Coalition," Ms Hodgkinson said.

The former state MP says she put her name forward due to her concerns about “the hardship that families and small businesses in our region are experiencing with the ever-spiralling cost of living” but in a change of heart has now decided to clear the way for the Liberals' Ben Britton.

“I will step aside from the role of candidate in order to keep the focus on the main game, and that is to win government for the Coalition at this election,” she said.

Labor’s Stephen Jones, who has held the seat of Whitlam since 2010, announced his retirement from politics earlier this year.

The Disability Trust chief executive officer Carol Berry was anointed as his successor, with Prime Minster Anthony Albanese announcing her candidacy during a visit to the Illawarra in January.