Pete Buttigieg drops out of 2020 presidential race

Pete Buttigieg has abandoned his bid for the US Presidency.

The former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana announced he would suspend his campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination after placing fourth in Sunday's South Carolina Primary and claiming just 8.2 per cent of the vote.

He started the primary season strongly, and secured the most number of delegates in the first caucus in Iowa, but had since seen his national poll numbers drop in recent weeks.

The 38-year-old was the youngest candidate for the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination and had he been successful, would have been the first openly gay person to 'top the ticket' for a major US party in a presidential race.

Meanwhile the remaining presidential hopefuls have their sights set on the state of Texas ahead of Super Tuesday.

Image: AP