Will Hurd Drops Out Of Presidential Race, Endorses Nikki Haley
Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd said on Monday (Oct. 9) that he was suspending his campaign, CBS News reports.
In addition to ending his campaign, Hurd, a former Congressman and CIA officer, announced his endorsement of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for president.
Hurd lauded Haley for her leadership track record and urged his supporters to back her.
"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 said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
"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," his statement read. "If the Republican party nominates Donald Trump or the various personalities jockeying to imitate his divisive, crass behavior, we will lose."
Hurd described Haley as " the best person" to unite the country and the only qualified Republican candidate left heading into primary season.
“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," Hurd said. "I wholeheartedly endorse Ambassador Haley and look forward to supporting her for the remainder of this race."
Launching his campaign in June, Hurd could not build enough momentum as a moderate who pledged to lead the party away from Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement.
He did not qualify for the first GOP debate in Milwaukee in August and the second debate in Simi Valley, Calif.
During his time in Congress from 2015 to 2021, Hurd was the only Black Republican in his final two years in office. Unlike most of his colleagues, Hurd was never afraid to criticize Trump.
Hurd is the latest candidate to end his campaign. In August, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez became the first presidential hopeful to suspend his campaign after failing to make the first debate stage.
