WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his Republican presidential campaign Sunday, on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, and endorsed Donald Trump.

It ends a bid for the White House that failed to meet expectations that he would emerge as a serious challenger.

DeSantis announced his decision in a video posted on X.

He entered the 2024 presidential contest with advantages in his quest to take on Trump, and early primary polls suggested DeSantis was in a strong position to do that. He and his supporters amassed $100 million, and he boasted a significant legislative record on issues important to many conservatives, such as  abortion and the teaching of race and gender issues in schools.

Advantages did not survive the reality of presidential politics in 2024. A high-profile announcement was plagued by technical glitches and there was upheaval of  his staff and campaign strategy. DeSantis struggled to find his footing in the primary. He lost the Iowa caucuses, which he had vowed to win, by 30 percentage points to Trump.

DeSantis refocuses his attention to the remainder of his second and final term as Florida’s governor, which ends in January 2027.

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