Former President Donald Trump has secured an endorsement from Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX), who had previously met with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R/FL). In his statement, Gooden cited Trump's conservative record as the reason behind his decision to endorse him over DeSantis, mentioning his work in Florida and commitment to conservative principles.
"Lance Gooden believes that former President Trump represents the future of the Republican Party," said a spokesperson for Gooden's office. "His dedication to upholding conservative values and fighting for America First policies is something we need at this crucial time."
The loss of Rep. Gooden serves as a setback for Gov. Ron DeSantis; however, he also gained support from another representative within his state: Rep. Laurel Lee (R) endorsed DeSantis, marking his first congressional endorsement from Florida.
On the other hand, two prominent Florida Republicans have announced their support for Donald Trump: Brian Mast and John Rutherford are now the sixth and seventh congressional Republicans to endorse him officially.
In a tweet announcing their decision, both Mast and Rutherford expressed confidence in Trump's ability to lead America forward amidst challenging times.
"Donald J.Trump knows what it takes to make America great again," tweeted Congressman Brian Mast. "We've seen firsthand how successful our country can be under his leadership."
Congressman John Rutherford echoed similar sentiments in his own social media post: "Our nation needs strong leadership more than ever before - I believe that @realDonaldTrump provides just that."
Byron Donalds introduced Gov.DeSantos during his election night speech last November but clarified recently that he was referring to former President Trump when describing someone as "ready for prime time." This revelation came following news about criminal indictment charges against Mr.Trump in New York earlier this month.
Despite these legal challenges, Donald Trump has secured endorsements from one governor, nine senators, and 47 House members by Tuesday. With a growing list of supporters within the Republican Party, many political analysts expect this trend to continue as the potential presidential race approaches.