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Nikki Haley has received the endorsement of former Texas Congressman Will Hurd, who declared on Monday that he is suspending his unlikely 2024 presidential campaign.
Hurd stated in a statement that he values the dedication and effort shown by our supporters. However, he emphasizes the significance of acknowledging the current political scenario and the necessity to unify our party behind a single individual in order to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden.
Hurd further stated that Haley, the previous U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, stood out as the most suitable alternative to Trump, possessing an unparalleled understanding of the intricacies involved in our foreign policy.
Less than four months after launching his campaign, promising to challenge Trump in a primary where other candidates were being cautious, Hurd made his announcement. Hurd, who served as a former CIA officer and proudly identified as a moderate, represented Texas’ 23rd Congressional District from 2015 to 2021.
Hurd distinguished himself by openly criticizing Trump during his campaign. One instance that left a lasting impression was when Hurd faced boos at an Iowa GOP dinner in July for boldly stating that Trump’s presidential run was motivated by a desire to avoid going to prison.
However, Hurd was unable to garner sufficient support in the Republican primary, which has been increasingly dominated by Trump. His polling numbers rarely exceeded 1% and he did not meet the criteria to participate in the two debates held thus far. This was partly because he refused to sign a pledge committing to support the eventual nominee, as he vowed to never endorse Trump.
Despite this, Hurd emerged as a prominent critic of Trump on cable news, particularly during the summer when the former president faced multiple indictments. Additionally, Hurd voiced his criticism towards entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a fellow primary opponent, accusing him of being too friendly towards Vladimir Putin and opposing additional aid to Ukraine. Hurd also aimed to set himself apart from the competition by unveiling an artificial intelligence policy platform, making him the first candidate in the primary to do so.
However, in his statement on Monday, he admitted that he had failed to garner sufficient support to sustain his campaign. He urged Republicans to unite and rally behind a single alternative to Trump, cautioning that if they fail to do so, history might repeat itself with a fragmented opposition as it did in 2016, allowing Trump to capitalize on the situation.
He expressed his utmost confidence in Haley’s expertise in national security, an area he himself has dedicated his political career to. Haley has been striving to overtake Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the primary alternative to Trump within the GOP.
Last week, she paid a visit to Texas to engage with influential GOP donors who have greatly valued her presence and support.
In a tweet, Haley expressed her gratitude to Hurd for his support.
She exclaimed, “There’s a nation that needs rescuing!”
Hurd had been the only Texan in the primary with elected experience. The state’s politicians have had a far more prominent role in the past two presidential races, with Republicans Rick Perry and Ted Cruz running in 2016 and Democrats Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke running in 2020.
