Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke is dropping out of the 2020 presidential race, according to a report by the New York Times.
The Times is reporting that O'Rourke had planned to withdraw "from the race in Iowa on Friday evening and follow up with an email message to his supporters." According to the Times, he stated in a draft of the message to his supporters that "he was proud of championing issues like guns and climate change but conceded that his campaign lacked 'the means to move forward successfully.'"
O'Rourke's campaign has struggled in a crowded field vying for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. He came out in favor of a controversial, mandatory gun confiscation program for AR-15s and AK-47s, after a mass shooting in El Paso.
The Times also reported that O'Rourke will not run for Senate and has no plans to endorse another candidate in the immediate future.
President Trump responded to the news on Twitter. Addressing O'Rourke's previous comment that he believed he was "born for this," Trump responded, "I don't think so!"
Oh no, Beto just dropped out of race for President despite him saying he was “born for this.” I don’t think so!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2019
O’Rourke’s state director talks with Iowa organizers in Des Moines after announcement of end of campaign. https://t.co/YmdxiJY1ca pic.twitter.com/u030SbFDkm
— Vaughn Hillyard (@VaughnHillyard) November 1, 2019
Beto O’Rourke is ending his presidential race. The crowd is thinning.
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) November 1, 2019
We are 94 days out from Iowa caucuses. O’Rourke was at 1 percent in the NYT Iowa poll out today. And had not yet qualified for the November debate. https://t.co/Sfi4qsZbLG
— Caitlin Huey-Burns (@CHueyBurns) November 1, 2019
This is a developing story that will be updated as needed.