Trump’s Rivals Exit Race, Paving Way for Billionaire’s Nomination

Front-runner’s victory in Indiana forces Ted Cruz and John Kasich to end their campaigns; RNC chairman calls for party unity

By Alex Li and Andrew Peng

Published at 12:30 p.m. ET

UPDATED (5:25 p.m. ET) — Ohio governor John Kasich officially suspended his presidential campaign Wednesday, clearing the way for GOP rival Donald Trump to clinch his party’s nomination.

“I’ve learned something, folks, that we all need to slow down our lives and listen to those around us,” Kasich said at a press conference in Columbus, Ohio. “We need to live a life a little bit bigger than ourselves.”

“I have renewed faith — deeper faith — that the Lord will show me the way forward,” he concluded.

With his departure, Donald Trump is officially the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

Original piece below…

WASHINGTON — For the #NeverTrump movement, it’s over.

Ohio governor John Kasich will suspend his presidential campaign after Texas senator Ted Cruz did the same in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s victory in the Indiana Republican primary, according to multiple reports, leaving the race uncontested and essentially paving the way for the billionaire to clinch the GOP nomination.

Kasich cancelled a press conference in Virginia and a statement in Columbus, Ohio, is scheduled for later today.

Both of Trump’s rivals had been mathematically eliminated from clinching the GOP nomination on the first ballot after Trump’s string of victories in the Northeast, but both had pinned their hopes on the possibility of a contested convention and formed an informal alliance in a failed attempt to keep Trump from winning Indiana.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus declared Trump the presumptive nominee late Tuesday.

Follow us on Twitter at @campaigner2016 and like us on Facebook. Send tips, questions and complaints to campaignernow@gmail.com.