Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Wednesday officially suspended his presidential campaign.

“Today I am suspending the campaign, but suspending the camp does not mean suspending citizenship,” he said during a press conference at an Arlington, Va., hotel. “Callista and I are committed to remaining active citizens.”

The announcement capped off a contentious Republican primary season during which Gingrich often clashed bitterly with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and the media. The thrice-married former House speaker also faced criticism over his opposition to nuptials for gays and lesbians and other issues.

Gingrich thanked former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Michael Reagan, Todd Palin and Sheldon and Miriam Adelson. He did not specifically endorse Romney during the lengthy press conference, but Gingrich stressed that voters will have a clear choice in November.

“This is not a choice between Mitt Romney and Ronald Reagan,” he said, answering his own question about whether the former Massachusetts governor is conservative enough. “This is a choice between Mitt Romney and the most radical, leftist president in American history.”