Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended his Republican US presidential campaign just ahead of the New Hampshire primary, throwing his support behind likely nominee Donald Trump.
This move marks the conclusion of a White House bid that fell short of expectations, as DeSantis failed to emerge as a substantial challenger to the former president.
In a video posted on X on Sunday, DeSantis acknowledged the prevailing sentiment among Republican primary voters, stating, “It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance.”
The New Hampshire primary, scheduled for Tuesday, will be the first in the United States.
DeSantis took a swipe at former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, his main rival for the second spot in the primary race, criticising the idea of returning to the “old Republican guard” represented by Haley. He described it as a “repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism.”
Despite entering the 2024 presidential race with significant advantages, including a substantial financial backing of over $100 million (US) and a noteworthy legislative record on conservative issues, DeSantis faced challenges that undermined his candidacy.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill pic.twitter.com/ECoR8YeiMm
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 21, 2024
Technical glitches marred his high-profile campaign announcement on X, where he engaged in a conversation with CEO Elon Musk. This was compounded by ongoing staff and strategy upheavals, as well as a loss in the Iowa caucuses to Trump by a wide margin.
DeSantis’s decision to suspend his presidential bid after just one voting contest raises questions about his political future. At 45 years old, he is term-limited as Florida’s governor.
While DeSantis was initially seen as a formidable challenger to Trump, his campaign struggled to gain traction. Trump actively targeted him in the months leading up to DeSantis’s candidacy announcement, and internal challenges further hindered his momentum.
Financial troubles surfaced as DeSantis laid off nearly 40 campaign employees by July, cutting a third of his campaign payroll. His aggressive turn to a super PAC for campaign functions raised legal concerns about coordination.
With his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, DeSantis now redirects his focus to the remaining term as Florida’s governor, concluding in January 2027.
