House Majority Whip Tom Emmer endorsed former President Donald Trump on Wednesday in the latest sign that powerful Republicans are lining up behind the front-runner for the GOP nomination.
Mr. Emmer, of Minnesota, backed Mr. Trump one day after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican, threw his support behind the ex-president.
Mr. Emmer’s decision to endorse Mr. Trump is notable because the former president threw cold water on the GOP whip’s short-lived bid for the speaker’s chair in October.
“Democrats have made clear they will use every tool in their arsenal to try and keep Joe Biden and his failed policies in power. We cannot let them,” Mr. Emmer said. “It’s time for Republicans to unite behind our party’s clear front-runner, which is why I am proud to endorse Donald J. Trump for president.”
Mr. Trump is adding to his battery of endorsements with less than two weeks until the Iowa caucuses kick off the primary voting season.
No other GOP presidential candidate is near Mr. Trump in the number of endorsements from members of Congress. Nearly 100 House Republicans and at least 18 GOP senators have endorsed him.
The amount of support is reflective of Mr. Trump’s position. He leads the rest of the primary field by 40 to 50 percentage points in some national polls and leads in early primary states. Comfortable in his lead, Mr. Trump has refused to debate primary opponents such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, endorsed Mr. Trump in November, something his predecessor — Kevin McCarthy — had not done before being ousted as speaker.
House Republican Conference leader Elise Stefanik of New York has also endorsed Mr. Trump.
Sen. Steve Daines, Montana Republican and leader of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, backed Mr. Trump a while ago.
Some Republicans have moved on from Mr. Trump, saying he is not forward-looking or could lose again to President Biden.
• Ramsey Touchberry contributed to this report.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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