--- title: Iowa Caucus Ends Martin O'Malley's 2016 Campaign description: Former Maryland governor's campaign never got off the ground canonical: https://time.com/4203646/martin-omalley-to-suspend-presidential-campaign-after-iowa-caucuses/ author: Charlotte Alter article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-02-02T03:28:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T19:19:52.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Martin O'Malley Suspends Presidential Campaign og:description: Former Maryland governor's campaign never got off the ground og:url: https://time.com/4203646/martin-omalley-to-suspend-presidential-campaign-after-iowa-caucuses/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt760aeaf6af9ef973/69887b7e3c1639b38e45bcf2/timepol-martin-omalley-jan-31-05.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIMEPOL-Martin-OMalley-Jan-31-05 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Martin O'Malley Suspends Presidential Campaign twitter:description: Former Maryland governor's campaign never got off the ground twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt760aeaf6af9ef973/69887b7e3c1639b38e45bcf2/timepol-martin-omalley-jan-31-05.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Martin O'Malley Suspends Presidential Campaign  by [Charlotte Alter](https://time.com/author/charlotte-alter/)  ## Charlotte Alter Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 7:19 PM UTCPublished: Feb 2, 2016 3:28 AM UTC  Martin O'Malley holds a campaign rally at a supporter's home in Johnston, Iowa on Jan. 31, 2016. Martin O'Malley holds a campaign rally at a supporter's home in Johnston, Iowa on Jan. 31, 2016.Natalie Keyssar for TIME  by [Charlotte Alter](https://time.com/author/charlotte-alter/)  ## Charlotte Alter Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 7:19 PM UTCPublished: Feb 2, 2016 3:28 AM UTC Former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley suspended his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination after [the Iowa caucuses](http://time.com/4203203/iowa-caucus-results-2016-donald-trump-ted-cruz-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/?xid=homepage) 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%](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016%5Fdemocratic%5Fpresidential%5Fnomination-3824.html) and won few major endorsements.  Iowa Caucus results 2016 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 greets supporters at his rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 31, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Rubio walks off his bus towards the pub. Marco Rubio spoke to supporters at a campaign rally at the Wellman's Pub and Rooftop in Des Moines Iowa on Wednesday evening, January 27th 2016\. (Natalie Keyssar for TIME) Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Hillary Clinton campaigns with Bill Clinton in Davenport, Iowa, on Jan. 29, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Bernie Sanders addressed students at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday morning, January 28th 2016\. (Natalie Keyssar for TIME) Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Bernie Sanders speaks during a campaign rally and concert in Iowa City, Iowa on Jan. 30, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Donald Trump held a benefit rally/campaign rally for the Wounded Warriors, a charity organization for Veterans, at Drake University in Des Moines Iowa on Thursday morning, January 28th 2016\. The event was timed to coincide with the Republican debates on Fox which he declined to attend. His event was attended by supporters, veterans and donors, as well as fellow candidates Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. (Natalie Keyssar for TIME) Natalie Keyssar for TIME  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks to supporters at a campaign town hall in Pella, Iowa, on Jan. 29. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Ben Carson speaks to supporters in Iowa City, Iowa, on Jan. 29. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and his wife, Janet, campaign at the Crossroads shooting range in Johnston, Iowa on Jan. 30, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Martin O'Malley walks during a canvas launch at a supporter's home in Johnston, Iowa on Jan. 31. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Hillary Clinton speaks during a campaign rally in Davenport, Iowa, on Jan. 29, 2016. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  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. Natalie Keyssar for TIME  Donald Trump greets supporters at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 26, 2016. 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