Haley wins backing from ex-Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who won't mount his own third-party 2024 bid

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Squelching speculation of a third-party presidential run, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Sunday endorsed Nikki Haley for the GOP nomination, saying he feels she “is the strongest chance” for Republicans to win in November.

Hogan told CNN's “State of the Union” he thinks “it’s pretty clear” that former President Donald Trump will win Monday's Iowa caucuses," but that Haley "has all of the momentum” to make her a strong nominee.

Hogan, one of his party’s fiercest Trump critics, had fueled speculation that he was preparing for his own third-party bid when he stepped down from the leadership of No Labels. A resignation letter dated Dec. 15 offered no criticism of the group, and Hogan declined to comment after the letter was obtained earlier this month by The Associated Press.

On Sunday, Hogan said he hadn’t meant to stoke rumors that he was planning his own run when he left the group, saying that he was focused on GOP efforts “to nominate the strongest possible Republican we can.”