Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd Announces 2024 Presidential Bid, Pledges to Challenge Trump

Hurd announced his official candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination, stating, “This morning I submitted the necessary paperwork to become a nominee for the presidency of the United States.”

Former Texas congressman Will Hurd has announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Thursday ( 22 June, 2023), making him one of the numerous challengers to former President Donald Trump. 

Hurd, a former CIA officer, served three terms in Congress before deciding not to seek re-election in 2020. During an appearance on CBS, Hurd declared his White House bid, emphasizing that the “soul of our country is under attack.” He highlighted issues such as illegal immigration, inflation, crime, and homelessness as key concerns. 

Hurd emphasized the importance of not succumbing to fear when it comes to Donald Trump, stating, “Candidates in this race should not let fear of Donald Trump hinder them, as there are too many who are allowing fear to dictate their actions.”

Hurd criticized President Joe Biden’s ability to address these problems and expressed his belief that nominating Trump would result in another victory for Biden. Hurd’s willingness to repeatedly criticize Trump sets him apart from many other Republican contenders, with only former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson having previously done so. Hurd emphasized that a path to the nomination exists for a Trump critic and described himself as a “dark horse candidate.” Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison responded to Hurd’s candidacy by stating that he had supported Trump’s agenda throughout his congressional career.

Hurd also commented on Trump’s recent indictment related to mishandling classified documents, deeming it unacceptable and asserting that he would not pardon Trump if elected. He expressed his disbelief at the discussions of pardoning Trump when the case had not even started.