Former Vice President Mike Pence announced the end of his 2024 presidential campaign this weekend. The exit of one of the most prominent candidates in the Republican presidential primary signifies a potential consolidation heading toward the Iowa caucuses in January.
Pence made the announcement during a visit to the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) convention in Los Angeles. He said that he came to the event “to say it’s become clear to me this is not my time.”
“So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today,” he said.
As of Saturday night, the former vice president did not endorse another Republican for president.
Pence said, “we always knew this would be an uphill battle, but I have no regrets. The only thing that would have been harder than coming up short would have been if we’d never tried at all.”
He called for the crowd to “hold fast to what matters faith, family, and the Constitution of the United States of America. I’m proud that our campaign stood firm on America’s role as leader of the free world.”
Pence wrote on social media that “there is a time for every purpose under Heaven.”
“After traveling the country the past six months, it has become clear…this is not my time.”
He wrote that his campaign ended “with grateful hearts.”
The former vice president wrote that he and his wife Karen thanked “all our supporters across the country, our campaign family and volunteers. You will always be in our hearts. God bless you all.”
He ended his post with an emoji of the American flag.
“There is a time for every purpose under Heaven.” After traveling the country the past six months, it has become clear…this is not my time.
As we leave this campaign, we do so with grateful hearts. I will always be grateful for the opportunities my family and I have been given… pic.twitter.com/bsmc94Lxjw
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) October 28, 2023
Despite entering the race with high name recognition, Pence’s campaign failed to gain momentum.
In the most recent RealClearPolitics polling average, the former vice president ranked in fifth place, pulling in about 3.5% support. He ran ahead of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
Despite his former role, Pence ran more than 50% behind his former running mate, former President Donald Trump.
