Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd suspended his longshot presidential bid on Monday night, becoming the second Republican to exit the race. Hurd, who polled below 1 percent and never qualified for the primary debates, is now endorsing former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as the best alternative to former President Donald Trump.
“In 14 short weeks, my team and I matched the accomplishments of many of the other candidates in the race who had significantly higher name ID and cash advantage,” Hurd wrote in a lengthy statement posted to X on Monday. “I am honored to have had the support of the people who made this possible. Unfortunately, it has become clear to me and my team that the time has come to suspend our campaign.”
When I first entered the Republican presidential primary field in June, I knew I was a dark horse candidate with a path to victory that would contain many obstacles. But as I traveled across the country, I met so many Americans who believed in my campaign’s message of unity and…
— Will Hurd (@WillHurd) October 9, 2023
Hurd, a former CIA agent who represented Texas’ 23rd congressional district from 2015 to 2021, was the last Republican to enter the crowded primary race. After his campaign launch in late June, Hurd carved out a space for himself as both a moderate candidate and an aggressive critic of former President Trump. However, during his three-month stint on the campaign trail, Hurd failed to qualify for the primary debates in Wisconsin and California after falling short of both the donor and polling requirements.
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Even while announcing the suspension of his campaign, Hurd continued his criticism of Donald Trump, urging his supporters to seek other alternatives within the party.
“While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden,” Hurd wrote. “I urge donors, voters, and other candidates to unite around an alternative candidate to Trump. Otherwise, we will repeat the same errors as in 2016. If the Republican party nominates Donald Trump or the various personalities jockeying to imitate his divisive, crass behavior, we will lose.”
To that end, Hurd has thrown his support behind former South Carolina Governor and onetime United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
“Our nation deserves a leader who can unite us and navigate the complex challenges we face, particularly when it comes to our national security. I believe Ambassador Nikki Haley is the best person in this race to do that,” he stated. “Ambassador Haley has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy. I wholeheartedly endorse Ambassador Haley and look forward to supporting her for the remainder of this race.”
“America is at a crossroads and it’s time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president,” Haley responded, thanking Hurd for his endorsement. The former governor has notably been one of the only candidates to make actual headway in the polls following the first two debates.
America is at a crossroads and it's time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president.
Thank you @WillHurd for your support and confidence. We have a country to save! https://t.co/lLDg0NegMd
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) October 9, 2023
Hurd is now the second candidate to drop out of the race, joining Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who suspended his campaign in August. Suarez had previously pledged to drop out if he was unable to qualify for the debates and called on other candidates to do likewise, telling them that they “shouldn’t be trying to take the time involved away from being productive.”
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