Pete Buttigieg quits the race for the White House
Democrat was the first openly gay candidate from a major party
Pete Buttigieg has announced he is ending his campaign for the White House after his campaign lost momentum in recent weeks.
The 38-year-old former Indiana mayor was the first openly gay presidential candidate from a major party.
He told supporters: “We must recognise that at this point in the race, the best way to keep faith with those goals and ideals is to step aside and help bring our party and our nation together.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“So tonight I am making the difficult decision to suspend my campaign for the presidency.”
CNN says Buttigieg's run was “historic”, adding that “he broke barriers by becoming the first gay candidate to earn primary delegates for a major party's presidential nomination”.
The BBC points out that his decision to drop out comes ahead of a key day tomorrow in the Democratic race to take on Trump. It says that by the end of Super Tuesday, “staunch left-winger Bernie Sanders could have an unbeatable lead”.
“He studied the math,” a leading Democrat familiar with the Buttigieg campaign said. “He knew there wasn't a path forward.”
President Donald Trump predicted that the main beneficiary of Buttigieg’s exit would be Joe Biden. He tweeted: “Pete Buttigieg is OUT. All of his SuperTuesday votes will go to Sleepy Joe Biden. Great timing. This is the REAL beginning of the Dems taking Bernie out of play - NO NOMINATION, AGAIN!”
Fox News agreed, saying the development “likely will harm frontrunner Sanders by providing a coalescing boost to more moderate candidates, as Buttigieg had gone on the offensive against the Vermont senator and sought to appeal to the centrist base of the party”.
The departure leaves six Democrats still in the running. Buttigieg has not endorsed any single candidate, but has pledged he would do “everything in my power” to ensure a Democratic win in November's election.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Get your first six issues for £6–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why are home insurance prices going up?
Today's Big Question Climate-driven weather events are raising insurers' costs
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'All too often, we get caught up in tunnel vision'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of legacy media failures
In the Spotlight From election criticism to continued layoffs, the media has had it rough in 2024
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Natalie Harp: the far-right conspiracy conduit who will be Trump's information gatekeeper
In the Spotlight How Natalie Harp rose from obscurity to trusted Trump aide
By David Faris Published
-
'This quasi-coup attempt has baffled most experts'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What will Trump do on day one?
Today's Big Question Presidents often promise immediate action, but rarely deliver
By David Faris Published
-
Democrats eye a new strategy after Trump victory
The Explainer Party insiders and outside analysts are looking for a way to recapture lost working-class support
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Trump completes Cabinet selections
Speed Read The president-elect's latest picks include Scott Bessent and Lori Chavez-DeRemer
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
'The double standards don't trouble the critics'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published