Will Hurd suspends longshot 2024 campaign, endorses Nikki Haley for president 

Former Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) has dropped out of the 2024 Republican presidential primary race and has thrown his support behind former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. 

Hurd, 46, had failed to qualify for the first two GOP primary debates and faced long odds at meeting the polling and fundraising requirements for the third debate.

The former CIA agent acknowledged that he was a “dark horse candidate” to begin with, and had only a narrow path to victory in the race. 

“Unfortunately, it has become clear to me and my team that the time has come to suspend our campaign,” Hurd announced in a post on X Monday. “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 urged his supporters and the other Republican contenders in the field to rally behind a single candidate in order to defeat Trump, 77, and Biden, 80, in the 2024 election.

“I urge donors, voters, and other candidates to unite around an alternative candidate to Trump,” Hurd said. “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.” 

For Hurd, that candidate is Haley. 

“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,” he said. 

“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.”

Haley thanked Hurd for his endorsement Monday. 

“America is at a crossroads and it’s time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president. Thank you [Hurd] for your support and confidence. We have a country to save!” she wrote on X. 

The former Trump administration official and South Carolina governor announced Monday that her campaign had raised more than $11 million in the third quarter of the year and has $11.6 million cash on hand. 

Haley is polling in third place nationally, according to a RealClearPolitics average of surveys, with 7.2% support – trailing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by about 5 points and Trump by about 50 points. 

Recent polling out of the early primary states of New Hampshire and South Carolina, however, show Haley ahead of DeSantis. 

Hurd becomes the second GOP presidential candidate to drop out of the race, joining Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who suspended his campaign in August.

Hurd never registered support in the RealClearPolitics polling aggregator.