Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the suspension of his Republican presidential campaign on Sunday, just before the New Hampshire primary. In a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, DeSantis endorsed former President Donald Trump, acknowledging that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Trump another chance.
DeSantis had entered the 2024 presidential race with high hopes, seen as a potential serious challenger to Trump. He had significant advantages, including a strong legislative record on conservative issues and a substantial political fortune of over $100 million. However, his campaign faced numerous challenges and setbacks.
Despite his early promise, DeSantis struggled to gain momentum in the primary race. Technical glitches marred his high-profile campaign announcement, and his staff and campaign strategy faced constant upheavals. In the Iowa caucuses, which he had pledged to win, DeSantis suffered a significant defeat, losing to Trump by a margin of 30 percentage points.
With his presidential bid suspended after just one voting contest, DeSantis’ political future is now uncertain. At 45 years old, he is term-limited as Florida governor, raising questions about his next steps in the political arena.
In his announcement, DeSantis criticized former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, his closest rival for second place in the primary race. He argued against returning to the “old Republican guard of yesteryear” that he believes Haley represents, describing it as a “repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism.”
As the New Hampshire primary approaches on Tuesday, DeSantis’ decision to suspend his campaign and endorse Trump adds an interesting twist to the Republican primary race. It remains to be seen how this development will impact the dynamics of the contest and the overall direction of the party moving forward.