Will Hurd, ex-Texas Rep., exits 2024 White House race, backs Nikki Haley.

Republican Candidate Will⁣ Hurd ⁣Suspends 2024 Presidential Campaign, Endorses Nikki Haley

Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd made a surprising announcement on Monday, suspending his 2024⁣ campaign and ⁢throwing his ⁢support behind former ⁤U.N. ambassador ‍Nikki Haley. Hurd, ⁣a former House lawmaker from Texas and a vocal⁢ critic of former President Donald Trump, believes that Haley is the ‍strongest candidate in⁢ the ‌GOP​ primary field.

“Unfortunately, it has⁤ become clear‌ to me and my team that ​the time has come to suspend ​our campaign,” Mr. Hurd wrote on X,‍ formerly known as Twitter.

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“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 [Joe] Biden.”

The ​former Congressman warned ‌that “errors” in the 2016 presidential‌ race should not ⁣be repeated.

“I urge donors, ​voters, and ‌other ‌candidates to⁤ unite around an alternative candidate⁣ to Trump,” ‍Mr. Hurd wrote. “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.”

Mr. Hurd⁢ launched ‍his 2024 White House bid in June, promising to bring “common-sense leadership.” In⁤ 2022,⁢ he toured the country to promote his‌ book, “American Reboot: An Idealist’s Guide to ‍Getting Big Things Done.”

Mr. Hurd, who served as a House​ lawmaker representing Texas’s 23rd Congressional District from‍ 2015 to 2021, has ‌a background as a CIA agent from 2000 to 2009.

Late on Monday night, President Trump responded⁢ to ⁤Mr. Hurd’s decision to pull out of the race, saying the former congressman “truly‌ doesn’t have what it takes” in⁣ a statement on his ​Truth Social account.

“It’s about⁢ time! Will Hurd, the failed former Congressman from the great State of Texas,⁤ who decided not to run for Congress again because he⁣ did an ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE JOB (ZERO⁢ Personality!),​ and couldn’t win, has just now decided to drop out of the 2024 Presidential Campaign,” President Trump wrote. “Luckily for him, he couldn’t make the Debate Stage, ⁤but went out with a bang.”

Mr. Hurd did not qualify for the first and second Republican presidential debates. After failing to meet the criteria needed for the first debate, Mr. Hurd criticized the Republican National Committee (RNC) for adopting ‍“arbitrary, unclear”⁤ poll standards that lacked “consistency.”

2024 Race

Mr. Hurd believes ‍that Nikki Haley is the best Republican candidate to address‌ the ⁣national security challenges ⁣facing​ the United ​States.

“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,” Mr. ‍Hurd wrote.

He⁣ continued: “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.”

Ms. Haley expressed gratitude ‍ to the former congressman⁣ for his “support and confidence.”

“America is at a crossroads and ​it’s time to come together and make‍ Joe Biden a one-term president,” she ​wrote.‍ “We have a country to save!”

Ms. Haley is currently trailing frontrunner President Trump in the GOP field, according ‍to the latest national poll from Cygnal. President Trump leads with 58 percent⁣ of support, followed by ⁢entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy with 10 percent.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has 9 percent of support, while former Vice President Mike ​Pence and Ms. Haley each have 5 percent.

The poll surveyed 2,000 likely general election voters from Oct. ‍3 to Oct. 5.

In a hypothetical two-way race, President‍ Trump and President Biden are⁢ tied at 45 percent.

In a hypothetical race with independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy,⁣ President ⁤Trump holds a 1-percentage-point lead‍ over President ‍Biden with ‍40 percent of⁣ support. Twelve ‍percent of respondents supported ​Mr. Kennedy.

Mr. Hurd is not the first Republican candidate to ⁣suspend ​his⁢ presidential campaign. In August, Miami’s Republican Mayor Francis Suarez dropped out of the 2024‍ race, less ​than three months after filing ​paperwork for the GOP presidential nomination.

What factors led to Will Hurd’s decision to suspend his ⁢presidential campaign and endorse Nikki Haley?

Hurd’s decision to suspend⁣ his presidential campaign and​ endorse Nikki Haley comes ​as a surprise to many in the Republican party. As a former House lawmaker from Texas and a‌ vocal critic of former President‍ Donald Trump, Hurd had ‌positioned himself as a moderate alternative‍ to ​the Trump-centric GOP. However,⁣ after careful consideration, Hurd believes that Haley is​ the strongest candidate in the ⁢GOP ‍primary ⁢field and the ‌best ⁢chance for the ‌party to ⁣defeat both Donald Trump and President Joe⁣ Biden.

In a statement released on ‌Monday, Hurd explained his decision to suspend his campaign: “Unfortunately, it has become ‌clear to ⁢me and my team ⁤that‌ the time has come to suspend our campaign.”⁢ Hurd acknowledged⁤ the realities of the political landscape and stressed the importance of consolidating the party around one candidate.

Hurd went on to ‍emphasize the need to learn ⁢from the mistakes made in the 2016 presidential race, hinting ⁢at​ the division within the Republican party that ultimately led to Trump’s victory. By endorsing Haley, Hurd hopes to unite the party and avoid a similar outcome in the upcoming​ election.

Haley, a former U.N. ambassador, is widely respected⁢ within the Republican party and has a strong conservative⁢ record. Her experience on the international stage and her ability⁤ to navigate complex diplomatic issues have earned her praise from both Republicans and Democrats alike.

With Hurd’s endorsement, Haley gains a significant boost in credibility and support⁣ within the GOP. His⁤ decision to ⁣suspend his campaign and endorse her sends a clear message to other Republican⁤ candidates that Haley is the preferred choice of ‍the party establishment.

It⁢ remains to⁤ be seen how this endorsement will impact‌ the Republican primary race and​ the 2024 presidential election. However, Hurd’s decision highlights the ⁢growing divide within the Republican party between those who support Trump and‍ those who believe the party needs to move in a different direction.

As the ‍primary​ season⁣ progresses, it is likely⁣ that more endorsements​ will be made ⁣and alliances will be formed. The race for the Republican nomination is only beginning, and the outcome is still uncertain. But with Hurd’s endorsement, Nikki Haley has ⁢gained an influential ally and has positioned herself as a frontrunner ⁣in the race for ⁤the​ White House.