Former Texas congressman Will Hurd has suspended his Republican presidential campaign and endorsed Nikki Haley for the GOP nomination. Hurd’s campaign focused on criticizing Donald Trump, but he decided to withdraw from the race as the Republican Party continues to embrace the former president.
Hurd announced his endorsement of Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on X (formerly known as Twitter). He believes that Haley offers a different vision for the country and has a deep understanding of foreign policy.
Hurd joined the crowded Republican primary field in July but failed to gain traction as a pragmatic moderate aiming to lead the party away from Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. He did not meet the qualifications for the first two GOP debates.
Hurd’s decision to end his campaign comes after Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also suspended his presidential bid. Hurd was not invited to the first debate stage due to insufficient support in the polls and campaign donors.
Initially, Hurd was defiant about not being invited to the debates, claiming that the Republican Party blocked him because he refused to sign a pledge to support the primary winner, even if it was Trump. However, he later acknowledged that his campaign was at a turning point.
Hurd served three terms in the House and was the only Black Republican in the chamber during his final two years. He represented a competitive district along the Texas-Mexico border. In 2020, he chose not to seek reelection and focused on endeavors outside of Congress.
Throughout his career, Hurd has been a vocal critic of Trump, even urging him to withdraw from the 2016 race following the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape. Hurd aimed to appeal to voters seeking a pro-business Republican with a strong national security background and a willingness to seek bipartisan consensus.
Despite his withdrawal, Hurd continues to criticize both President Joe Biden and Trump, highlighting issues such as border security, fentanyl smuggling, and homelessness in American cities. He believes that neither Biden nor Trump can effectively address these problems.
Hurd’s endorsement of Nikki Haley reflects his belief that she can provide a different direction for the Republican Party and the country.
