Bullock drops out of presidential race

Staff and wire report

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock announced this morning that he is suspending his campaign for the Democratic presidential primary.

"Today, I am suspending my campaign to become the Democratic Party's nominee for president," Bullock said in a press release emailed from his campaign website by [email protected]. "While there were many obstacles we could not have anticipated when entering this race, it has become clear that in this moment, I won't be able to break through to the top tier of this still-crowded field of candidates.

"I entered this race as a voice to win back the places we lost, bridge divides and rid our system of the corrupting influence of dark money," Bullock added in the release. "While the concerns that propelled me to enter in the first place have not changed, I leave this race filled with gratitude and optimism, inspired and energized by the good people I've had the privilege of meeting over the course of the campaign."

Bullock campaigned citing his success in passing legislation in a Republican-controlled state, with a GOP majority in both houses of the Legislature and all other state-wide offices held by Republicans.

He also cited his being the only Democratic candidate to win a statewide race in 2016 where Trump won the presidential election.

Bullock served one term as Montana attorney general before making his first run for governor in 2012, defeating former Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Hill and Libertarian Ron Vandevender.

In 2016, he defeated Republican Greg Gianforte, who since then has won a special election and a regular election for Montana's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and who is running for Montana governor again next year, and Vandevender, who again ran as a Libertarian and has declared his candidacy for Montana governor as a Libertarian again next year.

Bullock cannot run again for governor due to term limits.

Many Democrats were unhappy with Bullock running for president, saying he would better serve the party challenging U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., in Daines bid for re-election to the Senate.

Bullock said during his campaign that he has no interest in running for the U.S. Senate.

Bulloock thanked his supporters from his presidential bid.

"For the supporters who contributed their time, energy, and resources, and the incredible team who inspired me every day through their belief and enthusiasm, I'm thankful," he said in the release. "To the voters who shared their personal stories, their ideas, their encouragement, and their dreams - you make me hopeful for what our country can still achieve.

"On the difficult days, I would joke, 'It's worth the sacrifice because it's only a fair shot at the American Dream and our representative democracy at stake,'" he added. "That truth remains. Yet, even throughout the challenges of the campaign, I have experienced the best of what America offers."