![Martin O'Malley held a canvas launch at a supporter's home in Johnston, Iowa on Sunday afternoon,January 31rst. (Natalie Keyssar for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/timepol-martin-omalley-jan-31-05.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
Former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley suspended his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination after the Iowa caucuses on Monday night, ending a White House bid that never gained traction with voters.
“Together we all stood up for working people, for new Americans, for the future of the earth and the safety of our children,” he wrote in an email to supporters. “We put these issues at the front of our party’s agenda — these are the issues that serve the best interests of our nation.”
O’Malley aimed to position himself as a more youthful alternative to Hillary Clinton in the Democratic race, but was ultimately sidelined by the enormous enthusiasm for Bernie Sanders, especially among younger voters. Sanders mentioned O’Malley in his own speech Monday night, noting that “he ran an issue oriented-campaign, and he won the respect of the American people.” Clinton also praised the former governor.
Campaign staff expressed pride at a what they called an “honorable” campaign and emphasized that this simply wasn’t O’Malley’s race. “Overall, this is a wacky, wacky year, and nobody had seen anything like it,” said Haley Morris, a senior staff member. “It also wasn’t a year for governors.” The former governor was polling at an average of 2% and won few major endorsements.
![](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/iowa_caucus_results_2016.png?w=2400&quality=75)
Craig Varoga, who was chief strategist on O’Malley’s campaign for governor, said the concession was a “sensible response to a clear reality.”
“This has been a two-person race since June, it was never a three-person race,” he said, noting that it was “impossible to get to the left of Sanders.”
“The planets were just not aligned whatsoever for him in this campaign,” Varoga said.
With most precincts reporting in Iowa late Monday, he was drawing less than 1% of the vote.
— With reporting by Sam Frizell in Des Moines
See Pictures From a Week of Campaigning in Iowa
![Ted Cruz held a rally at the Elwell Family Food Centera in Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday Sunday night, January 31rst. The night before Caucuses he encouraged his supporters to Caucus for him and bring friends in a speech that focused heavily on his religious message. (Natalie Keyssar for TIME)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-february-1-keyssar-ted-cruz-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Sen. Marco Rubio, r-Fla., walks from his campaign bus towards a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 27.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-09.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Hillary Clinton campaigns with Bill Clinton in Davenport, Iowa on Jan. 29, 2016.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-031.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Students listen to Bernie Sanders during a stop at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 28, 2016.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally and concert in Iowa City, Iowa on Jan. 30, 2016.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-051.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Supporters attend a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 28, 2016.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-012.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks to supporters at a campaign town hall in Pella, Iowa, on Jan. 29.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-07.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Ben Carson speaks to supporters in Iowa City, Iowa on Jan. 29.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-08.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and his wife Janet campaign at the Crossroads shooting range in Johnston, Iowa on Jan. 30, 2016.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/timepol-mike-huckabee-jan-30-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Martin O'Malley walks during a canvas launch at a supporter's home in Johnston, Iowa on Jan. 31.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally with husband Bill Clinton in Davenport, Iowa on Jan. 29, 2016.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/timepol-hillary-clinton-jan-30-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![TIMEPOL Ted Cruz Republican presidential candidate, Marco Rubio, appeared at a caucus event with his family on Feb. 1, 2016, at the 7 Flags Event Center in Clive, Iowa.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Donald Trump greets supporters at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 26.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/timepol-iowa-keyssar-feb-1-gallery-041.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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Write to Charlotte Alter at charlotte.alter@time.com