(Reuters) – Perry Johnson, a businessman and unlikely candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, withdrew from the 2024 White House race on Friday.
Johnson was unable to meet the requirements to participate in the two Republican presidential debates held this year due to a lack of donors and minimal support in polls. Last year, he attempted to run for governor of Michigan, but his campaign was disqualified because of invalid nominating signatures.
In a message to his supporters, the 75-year-old Johnson stated, “Given the lack of opportunity to present my vision on the debate stage, I have decided that suspending my campaign is the appropriate course of action.”
Johnson also expressed his dedication to assisting Republicans in winning across the country in 2024, stating, “I am fully committed to supporting the Republican party’s success.”
On October 9th, another unlikely contender, former Texas congressman Will Hurd, also withdrew from the Republican nominating race.
Currently, former Republican President Donald Trump remains the clear frontrunner to become the party’s nominee for the White House in the upcoming year.
According to polls among likely Republican voters, Trump holds a significant lead of approximately 40 percentage points over his closest competitors, Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.
Reporting by Tim Reid; editing by Rod Nickel
