John Kasich suspends presidential campaign

Ohio Governor John Kasich announced Wednesday evening that he is suspending his presidential campaign.

As Kasich withdrew from the 2016 race, he did not directly endorse the only remaining candidate, and refused to even mention Donald Trump. The 63-year-old thanked his family and his home state of Ohio, as well as campaign volunteers and donors.

"I have always said that the Lord has a purpose for me, as He has for everyone," Kasich said in a statement to the press in Columbus, Ohio. "And as I suspend my campaign today, I have renewed faith, deeper faith that the Lord will show me the way forward and fulfill the purpose of my life."

The governor and former congressman was a long-shot candidate for most of the campaign cycle. He was one of the final candidates to join the race and managed only to win his home state's primary in the race for the GOP nomination.

He continued on after Florida Sen. Marco Rubio dropped out in mid-March despite having amassed fewer delegates.

Republican front-runner Donald Trump's decisive victory in the Indiana primary on Tuesday night forced another rival, Ted Cruz, to suspend his candidacy and prompted speculation that Kasich, running a distant third, would do the same.

See more of John Kasich through his career:

Rumors of Kasich dropping out of the race began to swirl early Wednesday when he cancelled a media appearance in Virginia and announced he would be making a statement. NBC News and CNN first reported that sources close to Kasich confirmed his plans to suspend his bid for the White House.