Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and announced his endorsement of front-runner Donald Trump. In a social media post, DeSantis cited a lack of clear path to victory as the reason for suspending his campaign. He stated that Trump is superior to the current incumbent Joe Biden and that he will honor his pledge to support the Republican nominee. The Trump campaign expressed gratitude for DeSantis' endorsement.
DeSantis joins a growing list of former 2024 candidates who have endorsed Trump after suspending their campaigns, including North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Senator Tim Scott. Following his announcement, DeSantis canceled a campaign event in New Hampshire and will instead remain in Tallahassee, Florida.
Despite claiming a victory at the Iowa caucuses, DeSantis has fallen behind his opponents in New Hampshire. According to a recent poll, he was polling at 6% in the Granite State, while Trump had 50% and Nikki Haley had 39%. In response to DeSantis' exit, Haley declared the GOP primary contest a "two-person race."
The DeSantis campaign has shown signs of winding down since Iowa, with the pro-DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down, laying off staff and DeSantis canceling media appearances. The campaign has also been plagued by internal drama and strategic blunders, with reports of infighting and staff losing faith in the campaign.
Starting Monday, DeSantis will resume his duties as the governor of Florida, where he has faced criticism for neglecting his responsibilities in pursuit of the presidency.