John Kasich Drops out of Presidential Race, Leaving Trump Last Republican Standing

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: May 04, 2016

John Kasich Drops out of Presidential Race, Leaving Trump Last Republican Standing

Ohio governor and Republican presidential candidate John Kasich has officially dropped out of the race, leaving Donald Trump as the only Republican candidate in a once crowded field.

The New York Times reports that, though trailing throughout the race, Kasich finally decided to end his presidential bid after Trump won a landslide victory in Indiana on Tuesday (May 3).

In a last desperate effort to stop Trump from winning the nomination, Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz agreed to combine their efforts. Kasich agreed to not compete with Cruz in Indiana if Cruz would not compete with Kasich in Oregon and New Mexico.

The seemingly unstoppable Trump, however, won a decisive victory in Indiana, causing Kasich to drop out of the race, following Cruz’s decision to end his presidential bid Tuesday evening.

Kasich was running as the moderate Republican amidst the so-called anti-establishment candidates Trump and Cruz.

Although he portrayed himself as the adult among the originally crowded Republican field, often referred to his success in restoring Ohio’s economy, and rarely resorted to attacking his opponents or utilizing negative campaigning, Kasich was not able to gain the traction he needed.

Although behind on delegates, Kasich was hoping to hold on and wait for a contested convention in June, but Trump’s victory in Indiana was the deciding factor in his decision to end his campaign. 

Publication date: May 4, 2016



John Kasich Drops out of Presidential Race, Leaving Trump Last Republican Standing