WASHINGTON — Republican Tom Tancredo said Tuesday that he’s ending his run for governor — a surprise move that comes just three months after Tancredo started his third run for Colorado’s top job and amid expectations he was the candidate to beat in the GOP primary.

Tancredo’s campaign manager, Mike McAlpine, confirmed the news to The Denver Post after CBS4 and Colorado Politics reported the development.

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His decision to drop out is the latest turn in a governor’s race that has become one of the most dynamic contests in recent Colorado history. Tancredo was one of the best-known — if not most controversial — candidates in the Republican field and his departure adds a new layer of uncertainty.

McAlpine said several factors played into Tancredo’s decision, including the large GOP field and financial considerations.

“Tom never wants to be in the position where he would win the primary and not win the general,” McAlpine said.

Now several GOP candidates, from state Treasurer Walker Stapleton to state Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, will fight to scoop up his supporters.

But Tancredo isn’t even the first bold-face name to end his 2018 run to replace Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Last year, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Arvada, also bowed out a few months after launching his campaign.

“Hey (Snowflakes),” Tancredo said in a tweet with two typos in it just after the news broke. “You can come out (of) your safe spaces!”

Hey Sniwflakes. You can come out if your safe spaces! — Tom Tancredo (@RealTomTancredo) January 30, 2018

Tancredo’s departure from the race creates a clearer path to victory for the several other Republicans running to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Tancredo joined the race at the end of October following back-to-back failed bids for the governor’s mansion in 2010 and 2014.

This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.