After a weak showing in South Carolina, former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., bowed out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday night.
“The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken and I respect their decision,” Bush said. “Tonight I am suspending my campaign.”
Despite starting at the top of the polls and bringing impressive fundraising, Bush collapsed in national polls. Bush was a non-factor in Iowa but he placed fourth in New Hampshire, edging out U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in the Granite State.
Bush faced major criticism from conservatives for his support of Common Core and immigration reform, including opposing Arizona’s immigration law. While no Republican presidential ticket without a member of the Bush family won an election since 1972, the former Florida governor also battled “Bush fatigue,” especially as his brother remains controversial.
While South Carolina had helped his father and brother win the Republican presidential nominations in 1988 and 2000 respectively, the Palmetto State ended the chances of a third Bush presidency. Despite the support of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, Bush lagged far behind Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rubio, pulling in the single digits.
Bush had not won an election since 2002. After serving under Gov. Bob Martinez, R-Fla., in Tallahassee, Bush ran for governor against Gov. Lawton Chiles, D-Fla., in 1994. Despite that being a strong year for Republicans, Bush came up short. Four years later, Bush bounced back to defeat Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay and, in 2002, defeated attorney Bill McBride to win a second term.
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