Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina has suspended his struggling presidential primary bid. The decision was announced in a press release late Thursday night.
Scott’s candidacy had been a long-shot from the start, and it never gained a great deal of traction in the crowded field of Democratic contenders.
The senator said in his statement that his campaign “simply hasn’t gained the traction we had hoped” and that he was not “projecting to have a viable path forward in this competition for the presidential nomination.”
He did not endorse any of the remaining candidates in the race and instead said that he would focus on his Senate reelection bid.
Scott had entered the primary race as a moderate in a field of more progressive candidates hoping to capture the anti-Trump energy that has dominated the Democratic primaries. He was the only black candidate in the race and had supported a number of controversial policies, including restrictions on immigration.
Scott’s suspension could make the race even more confusing, as it was already a jumbled field with 12 candidates vying for the party’s nomination.
It remains to be seen how Scott’s supporters will react to the news, or whether they will gravitate to one of the remaining candidates in the race.
Regardless, the announcement of Scott’s suspension marks a significant moment in this year’s presidential primary season. His campaign may not have been successful but it undoubtedly made an impact.