Ultra-long-shot Ryan Binkley drops out of 2024 race, endorses Trump

Ultra-long-shot Republican presidential candidate Ryan Binkley dropped out of the White House race Tuesday and endorsed the front-runner, former President Trump.

“Today, I am suspending my campaign for the Presidency of the United States of America and offering my endorsement and unwavering support for President Trump,” Binkley said in a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Throughout my campaign, I have seen our party struggle to find a place for a new vision while weighing the corrupt allegations and indictments against President Trump. He will need everyone’s support, and he will have mine moving forward,” he added. 

Binkley, a pastor and the chief executive of a Texas mergers and acquisitions firm, entered the GOP race last April, but failed to climb in the polls to join the handful of more major challengers as the former president led the field. 

Trump has dominated the early states as the GOP race quickly winnowed, but he still faces former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who has continued to bring in strong fundraising numbers and point toward Super Tuesday next month even as she trails Trump in the polls.

The GOP primary had already largely been seen as a one-on-one race between Trump and Haley.

Binkley’s exit comes the day of the Michigan primary, seen as the last major step in the presidential nominating process before dozens of contests take place on Super Tuesday next week.

He said in his statement that he looks forward to “considering other ways I can make an impact and promote my policy positions.”