Ben Carson, who had once been in competition with Donald Trump in polls among Republican voters has suspended his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination, USA Today reported Friday.

Carson, 64, a retired neurosurgeon who was born and raised in Detroit and announced his candidacy there a year ago told the Conservative Political Action Conference of his departure.

“Even though I might be leaving the campaign trail, you know there’s a lot of people who love me, they just won’t vote for me,” Carson said, smiling. “But I will still continue to be heavily involved in trying to save our nation.”

Instead of continuing his campaign, Carson announced that he’d become involved in My Faith Votes, which will focus on increasing Christian voting in the upcoming election.

Early on, Carson had been a leading contender for the nomination, but poor showings in several state caucuses and primaries including on Super Tuesday where his numbers were very low left little in the way of hope for him.

“I do not see a political path forward in light of last evening’s Super Tuesday primary results,” Carson said in a statement released Wednesday. “However, this grassroots movement on behalf of ‘We the People’ will continue. Along with millions of patriots who have supported my campaign for President, I remain committed to Saving America for Future Generations.”

He told EBONY.com last month that he would be a choice candidate for Black voters because he could show African Americans how to better use their resources.

“If we learned how to turn our dollars over in our own community before we send it out, enormous wealth could be generated,” he said. “Then learning to reach back and pull each other along, that’s going to really be the key. I’m also talking about how do we jump start the economy and that is something that will help everybody.”

But fourth place showings in the Iowa Caucuses was the best he did during the primary season. After that, as the field shrank so did his chances of winning the Republican nomination.