Republican candidate Ted Cruz bowed out of the presidential race Tuesday, May 2^nd, 2016. This decision followed his loss of Indiana to Donald Trump.

According to CNN, after Trump won Indiana, Cruz decided to bow out of the race all together. Following the loss, Cruz spoke in an interview claiming that he had “left it all on the field in Indiana”. In a formal statement Cruz said, “We gave it everything we’ve got but the voters chose another path. So with a heavy heart but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign.” Ted Cruz went on to say, “We gave it everything we’ve got but the voters chose another path. So with a heavy heart but with boundless optimism for the long-term future of our nation, we are suspending our campaign.”

CNN reported that even during his final hours of campaigning in Hoosier State, Cruz told potential voters that he was staying in the race until June 7. However, despite his premature dropout, Cruz can be credited with outlasted more than a dozen other Republican candidates.

Cruz, Kasich and those against Trump originally planned to steal away the 1,237 delegates he needed to win the nomination outright. But, CNN reported that those plans relied heavily on “money and momentum”. After Tuesday night Cruz appeared to be lacking both of these elements following the loss of Indiana.

Ted Cruz’s final weeks of campaigning were filled with controversy and conversation. CNN reported that Cruz forged an alliance with Ohio Governor John Kasich on April 24^ththat quickly “crumbled”. Cruz then went on to name Carly Fiorina as his running mate, which many have deemed an unusual move for someone to make when they are so far from the nomination. Shortly after that, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence endorsed Cruz but also showed support for Trump.

However, the most discussed event of Cruz besides his recent drop out has little to do with politics. Footage of Cruz spread through social media of the former candidate referring to a basketball hoop as a “ring”.

Cruz has been the opponent of Trump’s throughout the entire campaigning process and has frequently been discussed by Trump in an unfavorable light during interviews. One instance of this would be the infamous Twitter brawl between the two back in early April when Trump took a jab at Cruz’s wife.

Finally on Tuesday, he got mad. According to CNN, Cruz called the candidate a “pathological liar” and a “narcissist.” Cruz went on to say, “He is proud of being a serial philanderer. … He describes his own battles with venereal diseases as his own personal Vietnam.” Cruz did not mention Trump during his speech Tuesday night when he dropped out of the presidential race.

With Cruz out of the running many believe that this is Trump’s prime opportunity for the nomination.

(photo provided by www.cnn.com)