Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, terminates his 2024 campaign

Little Rock, Arkansas – Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, announced his withdrawal from the race on Tuesday. Although his candidacy was a throwback to a bygone age of the GOP, it eventually failed to find resonance in a party now run by Donald Trump.

Hutchinson’s withdrawal occurred one day after he placed sixth in Iowa’s opening caucuses, trailing not only Trump and his main competitors but also Ryan Binkley, a pastor who was not invited to participate in any of the debates. Hutchinson was the final Republican contender who dared to challenge Trump head-on.

“I congratulate Donald J. Trump for his win last night in Iowa and to the other candidates who competed and garnered delegate support,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “Today, I am suspending my campaign for President and driving back to Arkansas. My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front-runner did not sell in Iowa.”

He failed to garner more than a percentage point in the majority of surveys during the campaign and drew small audiences despite the Republican presidential field narrowing from over a dozen contenders to a small group. Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and racer, withdrew from the race on Monday night following his fourth-place performance in Iowa.