Hurd says campaign ‘at an inflection point’ after failing to make second GOP debate

Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd said on Wednesday that his campaign has reached “an inflection point” after the Texas Republican failed to make a second GOP presidential debate.

“Just 14 weeks ago, I became the final candidate to enter the Republican primary field. In the short time since, our campaign received donations from over 50,000 individuals who support our vision and registered at 3% in New Hampshire polling. Unfortunately, we narrowly missed the cut for the second debate and our campaign is at an inflection point,” Hurd said in a statement posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Hurd notably did not say he was dropping out of the race.

“My team and I are constantly evaluating whether we have the resources to chart a path to victory,” he said. “I’m headed to New Hampshire to spread my message to the Granite State ahead of the First in the Nation primary. Educating voters on how to solve these existential issues is important, and hopefully other candidates will follow my lead.”

Hurd, a former House representative, failed to qualify for the second GOP debate on Wednesday, which is being held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. and aired on Fox Business. The Texas Republican also failed to meet the criteria to make the first debate in Milwaukee. 

Hurd’s inability to make the debate stage underscores the tricky balancing act anti-Trump candidates have faced in the 2024 GOP primary – contrasting themselves with the former president while trying not to alienate the majority of Republicans voters who still support Trump.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), another Trump critic, was unable to make the second debate as well, though he did participate in the first debate. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the loudest Trump critic in the field, will be at the second debate.