Former Vice President Mike Pence announced on Saturday that he is suspending his presidential campaign less than two weeks before the third Republican primary debate. Pence is the fifth candidate to end his campaign, but the first to do so after participating in previous debates.
“The Bible tells us that there is a time for every purpose under heaven,” Pence said during a speech at the Republican Jewish Coalition Conference in Las Vegas. “I came here to say it’s become clear to me this is not my time. So, after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today.”
The former vice president went on to pledge his continuing commitment to “the fight for conservative values,” but stopped short of naming any specific “principled Republican leaders” who might receive his endorsement.
🚨🚨🚨Mike Pence DROPS OUT of 2024 Presidential Race
Watch: pic.twitter.com/xRTucsmFqV
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 28, 2023
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Since launching his campaign in June, Pence has run a competitive race against the crowded Republican field, all of whom trail frontrunner and former President Donald Trump by a significant margin. Pence qualified to participate in the first two primary debates in August and September, but notably had not yet qualified for the October debate in Miami, Florida. According to the latest polling data, Pence reported a national average of 3.8 percent support, just shy of the 4 percent required for the Miami debate.
Pence is now the fifth Republican candidate to suspend his run, following talk radio host Larry Elder on Thursday, businessman Perry Johnson last week, former Texas Rep. Will Hurd last month, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez in August. However, Pence is the first candidate to drop out after qualifying for any of the televised debates, marking a shift in the landscape of the race.
Thus far, only five of the major candidates have met the polling and donation requirements for the third debate. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are all scheduled to appear onstage. Former President Trump has declined to attend.
In addition to Pence, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson have also not yet qualified for the debate, though none have indicated an intent to drop out.
The third Republican primary debate will be held in Miami, Florida, on November 8.
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