Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has ended his bid for the Irish presidency.
McGregor failed to secure the necessary nominations to appear on the ballot.
He cited an ‘outdated Constitution’ and establishment politics for his withdrawal.
Conor McGregor will not be Ireland’s next president.
The mixed martial arts star is ending his presidential bid, announcing via social media on Sunday, Sept. 14, that he is withdrawing his candidacy for next month’s election. McGregor had not yet met the requirements to be included on the ballot and sought help in recent weeks from Tesla billionaire Elon Musk and local authorities throughout his home country.
‘This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time,’ McGregor wrote on X. ‘While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here. I will continue to serve my people by using my international platform to promote Irish interests abroad, to strengthen our economic opportunities, and to advocate for transparency and responsibility in public life at home.’
McGregor, 37, had until a Sept. 24 deadline to be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas (Ireland’s version of parliament) or at least four local authorities to be included on the presidential ballot, according to the country’s election laws. Ireland’s presidential election is scheduled to take place on Oct. 24.
McGregor’s social media post on Sunday cited ‘the straitjacket of an outdated Constitution that is selectively upheld by the main Oireachtas parties, and exploited to prevent a true democratic Presidential election being contested, but rather fixed to ensure only Establishment approved candidates may be selected on the ballot.’
McGregor initially launched his campaign days after a White House visit with United States President Donald Trump last March. But the polarizing former UFC champion, who ran on an anti-immigration platform, was seen as a longshot due to a lack of party affiliation and his checkered past outside the octagon. He received a formal endorsement from Musk last week in the wake of reports that Ireland deputy prime minister Simon Harris was urging local officials to vote along party lines and keep independent candidates such as McGregor out of the election.
Previously, he pleaded guilty to assault over a 2019 incident in which he punched an elderly man during an argument inside a Dublin bar. McGregor became one of the UFC’s biggest attractions beginning in 2008, and the first fighter to hold UFC championships in multiple divisions simultaneously. He owns a 22-6 career record. His last professional match occurred in 2021.
McGregor insisted on Sunday his first foray into Irish politics will not be his last.
‘You will see me canvassing again in the future, fighting for your rights and representing the best interests of our nation,’ McGregor wrote. ‘This is not the end, but the beginning of my political journey. I am driven by a commitment to improve lives, defend rights, and serve the Irish people with dedication and integrity.’