Francis Suarez ends his presidential bid, the first GOP candidate to drop out of the race

Source: NBC News

Francis Suarez ends his presidential bid, the first GOP candidate to drop out of the race

The Miami mayor failed to make the stage for the first primary debate.

Aug. 29, 2023, 1:13 PM EDT / Updated Aug. 29, 2023, 1:48 PM EDT
By Alec Hernández and Alex Tabet

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez ended his long-shot presidential bid Tuesday after failing to qualify for the first Republican primary debate last week in Milwaukee. He is the first GOP candidate to drop out of the race.

“Running for President of the United States has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Suarez wrote in a lengthy statement on his X account. “While I have decided to suspend my campaign for President, my commitment to making this a better nation for every American remains.”

Suarez centered his campaign on his record of success in Miami, winning re-election as a Republican in one of Florida's bluest cities. But his candidacy struggled to gain momentum as he campaigned in early states only a handful of times — making only three trips to Iowa and two to New Hampshire since announcing his bid in June.

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Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/francis-suarez-becomes-first-candidate-drop-gop-presidential-race-rcna99561