Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ends once-promising presidential bid
"I know this isn't the result that we wanted," the 52-year-old
The decision came as Gillibrand failed to qualify for a debate coming next month in
On the eve of Wednesday's qualifying deadline, Gillibrand sat down with her family and decided that if a pair of polls set to be released the following morning didn't help her meet the polling threshold, she'd drop out.
Both ultimately showed her at 0%.
To get to the
Vocal in the
Gillibrand also used her run to highlight systemic racism and white privilege, speaking on the subject frequently on issues such as mass incarceration, urban gun violence and maternal mortality rates for black women.
She initially hoped to stay in the race in a bid to qualify for October's debates, but her financial situation made that impossible. Gillibrand finishes with just
A campaign aide said Wednesday that getting media coverage that could help boost Gillibrand's polling and fundraising had become too difficult. Gillibrand met with staff at her campaign headquarters in
After forming an exploratory committee in January and formally entering the race by calling President
That seemed like more than enough for the long haul. But Gillibrand was the first Senate Democrat in
Many of her
Gillibrand said in July that she didn't regret urging Franken's resignation but argued that female senators were being blamed more than male ones for a decision that Franken himself ultimately made.
"Women are asked to hold accountable their colleagues. The men are not," Gillibrand said. "It's outrageous. It's absurd."
Harris tweeted moments after Gillibrand's announcement that the
A record 100-plus women were elected to
During a
As she continued to struggle for traction, though, questions about why Gillibrand was still running intensified. Asked in July if she hoped to be another candidate's choice for vice president, Gillibrand wouldn't rule it out.
"I'm running for president of
Campaigning Wednesday in
The crowded Democratic presidential field of more than two dozen candidates had already begun to winnow before Gillibrand's announcement.
Hurricane Dorian: How Central Florida is preparing for the storm’s arrival
Removing Breastfeeding Stigma Could Unlock Lifesaving Benefits to Black Mothers and Their Babies
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News