MADISON, Wis.—Scott Walker abandoned his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday, exiting the race that saw him rise to front-runner and fall to an afterthought in a matter of months.
The Wisconsin governor planned a news conference for Monday evening in Madison, where he was to announce he will be the second major GOP candidate to quit the race.
“It has been communicated to me that he is getting out of the race,” said Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun, who endorsed Walker earlier this year. “I’m proud of our efforts in Iowa. And I think he’s an incredible candidate. It’s unfortunate.”
One of the last Republicans to enter the race, Walker will join former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as one of the first to leave it, having been unable to adjust to the popularity of billionaire businessman Donald Trump or break out in either of GOP’s first two debates.
He will return to his job in Wisconsin as governor, where his term runs through 2018.
“I’m not sure what went wrong,” said Iowa state Sen. Mark Costello, who endorsed Walker earlier this year. “I think all the more provocative statements some of the candidates made got them more press.
“I don’t think he made any really big mistakes,” Costello said, “but people lost enthusiasm.”
Walker, 47, tried to appeal to religious conservatives, tea party conservatives and the more traditional GOP base. He tried to cast himself as an unintimidated conservative fighter who had a record of victories in a state that hasn’t voted Republican for president since 1984.
