WASHINGTON — New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker has dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Booker made the announcement in a video posted to Twitter, saying "It’s with a full heart that I share this news—I’m suspending my campaign for president."
He added, "To my team, supporters, and everyone who gave me a shot—thank you. I am so proud of what we built, and I feel nothing but faith in what we can accomplish together."
The suspension of Booker's campaign comes after months of struggling to raise the necessary funds and polling support to appear in the primary debates.
Booker ran a campaign with a message of unity and peace, but it seems to have failed to resonate with the American voters. He never was able to crack the top tier of candidates and consistently polled in the low single digits.
Booker is expected to shift his focus to the Senate race in New Jersey, where he's up for reelection. The New York Times reports Booker still enjoys favorable ratings among those in the Garden State, which leans decidedly Democratic.
This year's Democratic field was once heralded as the most diverse in history, but with Booker's departure from the race, there are now only a few people of color in the running. Businessman Andrew Yang, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabard of Hawaii and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick remain in the race.
The next Democratic primary debate will be held at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday. It will air exclusively on CNN starting at 9 p.m. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, businessman Tom Steyer, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar will take the stage.
Several of Booker's primary opponents took to Twitter to address the suspension of his campaign:
Thank you, @CoryBooker. You've always been a powerful voice for justice and equality, and you've made this primary stronger. I know you will continue to be a leader in the fight to defeat Donald Trump and build a stronger future for America. pic.twitter.com/5rAwSS2wPR
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 13, 2020
Cory, you campaigned with joy and heart, and instead of just talking about bringing people together, you did it every day. You made our politics better just by running. Grateful to you and looking forward to your continued leadership.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 13, 2020
I will miss my friend Cory Booker so much on the campaign trail. We were friends before this started and are even better friends now. The one thing about Cory—he never stops standing up for what is right...so, the best is yet to come! pic.twitter.com/XBv2OYTucv
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 13, 2020
Senator Booker's commitment and love for the country is clear. He’s right that uniting as a people is how we tackle our biggest challenges. I know he's going to continue to lead in this fight.
— Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) January 13, 2020
Cory Booker - my friend, my brother. Running alongside you has been one of the joyous parts of this race. You inspire me and millions of other Americans to be better and do better. I will miss seeing you and Rosario on the trail, but not for long. The fight continues. 🙏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/4W7IBGmjFq
— Andrew Yang🧢 (@AndrewYang) January 13, 2020
