Doug Burgum drops out of Republican race for president

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race after failing to gain traction in the crowded Republican primary field.

Mr Burgum, a wealthy former software executive, had injected millions of his own money into his campaign.

But he failed to qualify for the third debate and was unlikely to qualify for the fourth that has the strictest qualification rules yet.

Former President Donald Trump continues to hold a wide lead over his rivals.

In a statement on Monday, Mr Burgum lashed out at the Republican National Committee (RNC) for its debate requirements.

"The RNC's clubhouse debate requirements are nationalising the primary process and taking the power of democracy away" from the early voting states of New Hampshire and Iowa, he argued.

"These arbitrary criteria ensure advantages for candidates from major media markets on the coasts versus America's Heartland," he continued.

The fourth debate on Wednesday has the strictest qualification requirements yet, including 80,000 donors and 6% support or more in two national polls. To qualify for the first debate, Mr Burgum had offered gift cards of $20 (£16) to anyone who donated $1 to his campaign.

Mr Burgum is in his second term as the governor of North Dakota, a sparsely populated state on the Canadian border. He is little-known on the national scene, but he has overseen significant economic expansion as the leader of his deep-red state.

Other Republicans to drop out of the race so far include former Vice-President Mike Pence, Senator Tim Scott, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Texas Congressman Will Hurd, radio host Larry Elder and businessman Perry Johnson.