Ohio Governor John Kasich has dropped out of the presidential race after struggling to gain traction against Republican front-runner Donald Trump.
“As I suspend my campaign today I have renewed faith, deeper faith that the Lord will show me the way forward,” he told supporters in Columbus.
Trump holds a commanding lead and is closing in on the nomination.
His likely opponent will be Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, who lost the Indiana primary to Bernie Sanders.
It was a surprise win for the Vermont senator who continues to attract huge crowds to his rallies, but his opponent has an almost insurmountable lead in votes and delegates.
Speaking to CNN about taking on Trump, Mrs Clinton said he was a “loose cannon” who had run a “negative, bullying” campaign.
The New York businessman has made a series of controversial remarks ever since he launched his White House bid by labelling Mexicans as rapists and criminals, reports the BBC.
Several senior Republicans said on Wednesday they would not back him, with some saying they would prefer to vote for Mrs Clinton.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz dropped out of the race on Tuesday after losing heavily to Trump in the Indiana primary.
It is now certain Trump will have the 1,237 delegates needed to become the nominee before the July convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kasich had been widely seen as the most moderate and electable Republican candidate but this did not garner him enough support among Republican primary voters.
Republicans are now divided over whether to support Trump as the Republican nominee.
“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed… and we will deserve it,” South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham said on Tuesday.
Kasich’s named has been floated as a possible vice presidential pick but he has denied that he would accept it.
