Trump intensifies endorsement campaign in display of unwavering support before Iowa
Trump's endorsement spree gains momentum as he solidifies support among Republican lawmakers nationwide, signaling an unwavering loyalty to the former President A subtle message from the campaign sparks eagerness to align before potential repercussions arise
The Trump campaign is sending a subtle message that has Republican lawmakers in Washington and across the country eager to express their loyalty to former President Donald Trump before it's too late. Recent endorsements from members of Congress and governors, including every member of House GOP leadership and the No. 3 Senate Republican, are a direct result of Trump's team's increased effort to secure as many endorsements as possible in the days leading up to the Iowa caucuses. The former president's advisers have quietly conveyed to some Republicans that they are keeping track of who endorses him before and after Iowa, according to four sources familiar with the discussions.
The message reverberated loudly in the US Capitol and governors' mansions, prompting some remaining GOP holdouts to accelerate their endorsement timelines. "After hearing that they were keeping tabs, he decided, 'If I'm going to endorse anyway, why be on the wrong side of this thing?'" said an adviser to a lawmaker who recently endorsed Trump, speaking to CNN.
Former President Donald Trump, left, andRepublican Presidential Candidate Nikki Haley.
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Several congressional Republicans who have endorsed other candidates are reportedly facing pressure to change their endorsement. GOP Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who has endorsed Nikki Haley for president, revealed to CNN that someone had reached out on behalf of Trump to inquire about switching his endorsement ahead of Iowa. However, Norman declined the entreaty, stating, "I'm very comfortable with my choice of Nikki. You see what she's doing in the polls. I like Donald Trump and his policies were great. But we could use a person that can spend eight years trying to correct this country."
Senior Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita has rejected any claims that the campaign attempted to contact Norman in order to sway his support. He also clarified that Trump and the congressman have not had any form of communication for over a year.
Privately, Trump and his inner circle have expressed that they see endorsements as a demonstration of loyalty, and view the January 15 caucuses as a significant milestone. Individuals close to the former president have described the weeks leading up to the Iowa caucuses as an "invisible primary" that concludes on January 15.
Some Trump advisers argue that those who endorse after Iowa will not be "blacklisted," but others who have interacted with Trump in the past are still cautious about potential repercussions they may face by waiting, given his emphasis on loyalty. In private discussions with his allies, Trump has expressed frustration over certain lawmakers whom he previously endorsed but have not reciprocated the favor.
Trump's team is acutely aware of the heightened media focus on Iowa leading up to the caucuses. They see increasing endorsements as an effective strategy to showcase their "organizational aptitude," according to one campaign adviser. Multiple advisers told CNN that the more endorsements announced before Iowa, the more formidable the campaign appears. "President Trump's campaign is devoted to establishing the most robust operation nationwide before the initial votes are cast," the adviser stated.
Trump's team is confident that the former president will emerge victorious next Monday, expecting a definitive win that will shape the rest of the GOP primary season. They anticipate that Republicans will rally behind Trump, with one senior adviser expressing the expectation that "the chickens will come home to roost." Trump's team is closely monitoring who supports him as his path to securing the GOP nomination appears increasingly assured. Trump personally has been reaching out to lawmakers, especially those he has previously endorsed, to encourage them to back his candidacy, according to multiple sources familiar with these calls.
Before endorsing the campaign, the former president also personally speaks with each member, said a senior Trump campaign adviser. "He makes sure to personally secure endorsements for the campaign," the adviser told CNN.
Getting support on the Hill
The Trump campaign has also heavily depended on his Hill surrogates to assist them in securing more endorsements. One of Trump's staunchest allies in Congress, House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, for example, has been increasingly rallying House Republicans to support the former president.
Stefanik presented Trump's poll numbers during a weekly conference meeting before the new year, and argued that he is leading in the nomination race. She urged GOP lawmakers to support him, according to attendees.
On Super Tuesday in Arlington, Virginia, a woman is seen filling out her ballot for the Democratic presidential primary elections at the Sleepy Hollow Elementary School polling location in this March 3, 2020 photo. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
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Additionally, she noted that publicly endorsing Trump has the added benefit of increasing fundraising. Stefanik, the first Republican leader to endorse Trump, clarified that members who have officially endorsed Trump are eligible for a special badge on their digital fundraising pages, which may enhance their ability to raise funds, according to sources.
Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, former nominee for veterans affairs secretary under Trump's administration, has been a crucial ally in advocating for endorsements of the former president, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser. Similar to Stefanik, Jackson has consistently urged his House GOP colleagues, both individually and collectively, to align themselves with Trump.
With Trump's nomination seeming more and more certain and the growing pressure to endorse before Iowa, House Republican leadership has mostly complied.
Last week, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House GOP Whip Tom Emmer officially endorsed Trump, making the entire House Republican leadership in support of the former president. Trump was especially proud of Emmer's endorsement, despite the fact that Emmer had previously opposed Trump's speaker bid earlier this year, according to a source familiar with the situation. While Senate leadership has been slower to get on board, as of last week, only Montana's Sen. Steve Daines, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, had formally endorsed Trump. However, Trump's campaign gained an important endorsement on Tuesday from Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the third-highest-ranking Senate Republican.
Several lower-level members of the senate, such as Ohio Senator JD Vance, were early supporters of Trump, and in recent weeks, more senators have joined in. Last week, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas publicly announced his endorsement of Trump, and it is expected that Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Representative Cliff Bentz of Oregon will also announce their endorsements in the coming days, along with others, according to sources familiar with the discussion. The New York Times first reported that Barrasso and Lummis were planning to endorse Trump this week.
When asked about his endorsement and whether he discussed it with Trump, Scalise told CNN, "We've had numerous discussions. I've spoken with him about the urgent actions he would take as president to steer our country in the right direction. There's no one more capable than Donald Trump to do that."
Trump's calls vary in cordiality, according to a source. For example, he called Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to seek her endorsement before she backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year, according to two sources. In an interview, Reynolds disclosed that she declined to endorse him at that time. Another source revealed that Trump became irritable, reminding the Iowa Republican that he had supported her in the race for governor.
Trump and his top advisers closely monitor FiveThirtyEight's endorsement tracker, carefully analyzing both the endorsements he receives and those obtained by his leading rivals. Trump's advisers have likened this scrutiny to keeping score in a sports game. To date, Trump has garnered 104 endorsements from House Republicans, 19 from GOP senators, and seven from governors.
DeSantis has garnered five House GOP endorsements, no Senate endorsements, and two endorsements from governors. Meanwhile, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has secured one House endorsement, no Senate endorsements, and one endorsement from a Republican governor.
Trump's substantial lead in endorsements is partly due to his campaign's advanced endorsement strategy, implemented early in his campaign. Brian Jack, who played a key role in Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns as well as in his administration and has strong relationships with many members of Capitol Hill, has been at the forefront of the effort.
Many Republicans, including lawmakers, public figures, and operatives, who are hesitant to support Trump have expressed fears about the consequences of not backing him. One Republican lawmaker, who had previously considered endorsing another candidate, told CNN that there is genuine concern about potential retaliation from Trump's camp, which has led them to remain neutral in the race. This individual has also advised other skeptical Republicans to refrain from taking sides.
Their concerns are not unfounded - members of Trump's team have suggested that if he becomes the nominee, they will refuse to collaborate with the Republican Governors Association, which Reynolds had previously chaired.
Despite reservations about Trump, many are willing to support him if he becomes the nominee, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has had a contentious relationship with the former president since the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
