The 2024 race is shaping up to be a wild one. And it just got a major shakeup.
Because Ted Cruz gave Donald Trump the biggest shock of his life.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz backed Donald Trump for president Tuesday night, urging the country to rally behind the Republican front-runner.
“I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for President of the United States,” Cruz stated on Hannity.
“I look forward to supporting him enthusiastically.”
Cruz, who competed vigorously against Trump in the 2016 presidential primaries, claimed that the Iowa caucuses revealed that there is only one viable Republican contender.
“[Iowa] was a dominating victory for Donald Trump: I’ve got to say, there’s no place like the Iowa caucuses. I know it intimately. The men and women of Iowa, they take their responsibility incredibly seriously. They scrutinize the candidates,” Cruz said.
“It’s an amazing process, and I’m a big believer in letting democracy play out. Well, last night it played out, and I got to say Trump’s victory was across the board… Congratulations to President Trump on that dominating victory,” Cruz said.
“And at this point, I believe this race is over.”
Trump received 51% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses on Monday, claiming a 30-point victory over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who finished ahead of Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and two-term South Carolina governor.
The Texas senator stated that Trump’s overwhelming victory in the Iowa caucuses demonstrated that the former president’s candidacy is “compelling.”
“I’m a big believer we need to let the process play out: It did. And the results last night: 51% [of the vote, which included] 98 counties – that’s compelling. And at this point, I think the contrast needs to be on substance and policy and records [versus Biden],” Cruz said.
Cruz remarked that he is a major senatorial election target for Democrats as he seeks a third term in November.
“I wear that as a badge of honor,” he said, referring to Democrats’ continued ire and attention as his re-election campaign approaches.
“If you are a left-wing Democrat, after Donald Trump, there’s nobody in the country you want to beat more than me. And Chuck Schumer has made clear I am his number one target in the country,” Cruz continued.
“The Democrats are going to spend $100 million this year trying to beat me and trying to flip Texas blue. Now, that ain’t going to happen.”
Sen. @TedCruz endorses Trump, tells Hannity “this race is over.” pic.twitter.com/jbFhywkgEr
— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) January 17, 2024
Trump also picked up an endorsement from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., another former 2016 primary competitor, on Sunday.
It looks like the Republican Party is starting to coalesce around Trump.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
