RICHARDSON, Texas — A North Texas CEO and pastor ended his longshot presidential bid Tuesday and endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Ryan Binkley, CEO and co-founder of the investment bank Generational Group and co-founder/lead pastor with his wife, Ellie, of Create Church – both based in Richardson – initially announced his campaign last April. Binkley remained in the race until Thursday despite failing to crack 1% of the vote in any early-state GOP primary contest.
After Binkley beat former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson for fifth place in the Iowa caucuses, “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert playfully asked, “Who is Ryan Binkley?” during a segment of the show. Despite Binkley outlasting high-profile candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott, and former Vice President Mike Pence, the GOP primary had long been seen as a one-on-one race between Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley before Binkley dropped out.
“Today, I am suspending my campaign for the Presidency of the United States of America and offering my unwavering support for President Trump. I would like to thank my family, friends, campaign team, 80,000-plus financial supporters and the hundreds of volunteers who helped share my vision,” Binkley wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Throughout my campaign, I have seen our party struggle to find a place for a new vision while weighing the corrupt allegations and indictments against President Trump. He will need everyone’s support, and he will have mine moving forward.”
Binkley’s exit comes the day of the Michigan primary, the last contest before Super Tuesday on March 5, when multiple states, including Texas, head to the polls.
Binkley says he “looks forward to considering other ways I can make an impact and promote my policy positions.”
