John Delaney Ends 2020 Presidential Campaign Days Before Iowa

SILVER SPRING, MD — John Delaney, a former congressman from Montgomery County, Maryland, and the first Democrat to announce for president, announced Friday that he's dropping out of the 2020 presidential race.

His announcement comes three days before the Iowa caucuses.

"It has been a privilege to campaign for the Democratic nomination for President, but it is clear that God has a different purpose for me at this moment in time," Delaney said in a statement. "I leave this race with a profound sense of gratitude to the voters who shared with me their hopes and concerns for our magnificent country, in admiration for the other contenders for the nomination and proud of the work we did to change the debate."

Delaney, who spent millions of dollars of his fortune on the campaign, didn't garner as much attention as the other, more competitive candidates — like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and former Vice President Joe Biden.

In the statement, Delaney's campaign said he didn't have enough support to meet the 15 percent viability threshold in a number of caucus precincts, but enough to take from other, more moderate Democrats who may still have a chance.

"I just don't want to do that because I think we need a candidate who is running in the center, who can bring this country together to solve problems, to accomplish the objectives that we need to do, which is to beat Trump and govern in the future," Delaney said on CNN Friday morning.

In most precincts, a candidate must get 15 percent support of caucus-goers. If a candidate falls short, caucus-goers can choose to back another candidate.

The Maryland Democrat says he doesn't have any plans to endorse a candidate. But he did tell CNN that he will "support and do everything (he) can to help get a Democratic nominee in the White House and beat Donald Trump."