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Steve Bullock drops out of 2020 presidential race

Steve Bullock.
Photo: Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Gov. Steve Bullock (D-Mont.) has dropped out of the 2020 presidential race, per the Washington Post.

The big picture: Bullock believed he could be the Democrat to beat President Trump, having won re-election even as the state voted for Trump in 2016. But his campaign failed to gain traction — and he only qualified for a single debate.

  • With his announcement, Bullock also said that he would not challenge Montana's Republican Sen. Steve Daines next year, per the New York Times.
  • Throughout the race, Bullock had taken less progressive stances than many of his competitors, specifically coming out against Medicare for All. In 2013, he expanded Medicare in his own state, and renewed the expansion in 2019.

What they're saying:

"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. 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 said in a statement, according to the Post

Go deeper: 2020 presidential election: Track which candidates are running

Steve Bullock