As the first Republican to announce his candidacy for 2024, former and potentially future President Donald Trump has had his advantages, among them time to receive plenty of endorsements.
Among those few declared candidates, Trump is clearly the front-runner, and it’s likely to be a race between him and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). DeSantis has yet to declare he is running, though, and many of Trump’s endorsements have come from and continue to come from Florida.
Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) spoke to TIME to share that he was endorsing Trump, which was shared via email by the Trump campaign on Monday afternoon.
Mills, a freshman, had been endorsed by Trump for his seat last October. He went on to win last November by over 17 points against Democrat Karen Green.
EXCLUSIVE: Florida GOP Congressman @CoryMillsFL Backs @realDonaldTrump for President.
“We need to stop the infighting and come together and unify. And I think right now the person that we need to be unifying behind is Trump.”https://t.co/zQ5xEqd9pe
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) April 10, 2023
The indictment brought by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg against Trump late last month had something to do with the endorsement. “I think that what’s happening in New York is a very unifying event,” Mills told TIME. “We need to stop the infighting and come together and unify. And I think right now the person that we need to be unifying behind is President Trump.”
Mills is not the only member of Congress who mentioned the unprecedented indictment brought against Trump when it comes to making an endorsement. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) began her endorsement with such a reference, which was posted over Facebook last Monday, the eve of Trump’s arrest.
Mills’ endorsement comes not long after Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) announced his endorsement for Trump last Thursday, which was shared on the congressman’s personal Twitter account. The Trump campaign also sent out an “ICYMI” email about the endorsement on Monday afternoon, shortly before sending out an email about Mills’ announcement. Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) have also already endorsed Trump, with the former also mentioning the indictment when speaking to TIME.
Thanks to @CoryMillsFL for joining other members of the FL Congressional Delegation like @mattgaetz, @ByronDonalds & @realannapaulina in endorsing my father for President in 2024!
Proud to have this amazing group of #MAGA rockstars supporting President Trump in Florida💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/qvUG93nQvR
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 10, 2023
More endorsements from Florida’s 28 representatives are likely to be coming, as the TIME report highlights:
Mills, a freshman member who represents a Central Florida district, will likely soon be accompanied by more of his colleagues. Other GOP Florida House lawmakers have told associates that they will endorse Trump in the coming days or weeks, including Reps. Kat Cammack, Brian Mast, Vern Buchanan, and Greg Steube, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. None of those legislators returned requests for comment.
Despite having not even declared yet, DeSantis has still managed to earn congressional endorsements, including from Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Chip Roy (R-TX). He is expected to declare sometime after the Florida legislative session ends in May.
It’s funny how they even mention Ron DeSantis in this article!!!! He has not even announced that he’s running and yet for months they talk about him in the media and take polls including him!!! Other candidates on the Republican side have announced already and don’t even get mentioned!!! Talk about pushing a narrative!!!! I’m glad that President Trump received Rep.Cory Mills endorsement and I hope there’s many more to come!!! All the Republicans should unite and stand behind this man for he is the only person who will be able to fix our DOMESTIC and FOREIGN policies!!! If anyone thinks otherwise they’re only kidding themselves!!!! If we go back to our old ways and put another politician in the WHITE HOUSE (which all the candidates so far are, even the one’s who have not announced yet) we will be voting for our own demise!!!!
I KEEP READING AND ASKED IF I WOULD INDORSE A TRUMP/DESANTSI RUN. YOU BET I WOULD THOSE TWO TOGETHER CAN CLEAN HOUSE CAUSE WHAT ONE DOESNT COME UP WITH THE OTHER WILL FOR SURE. THEY WOULD BE AN AWESOME TEAM. TOGETHER
Funny how Alex Bruesewitz says they need to stop the infighting but endorses the one person who is attacking all the others. CRAZY logic!!!
Do you mean Donald Trump? If you think he’s attacking the others wait until the Democrats get a hold of them!!! It will be very good practice for the Republican candidates!!!!! As the old saying goes “if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen”. POLITICS has always been nasty and the other candidates already know this. So far everyone of the candidates on the REPUBLICAN side even the one who hasn’t announced yet are PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS!!!!! You know the kind that has never worked in the private sector and went straight to Washington and then left to become Governor as a steppingstone to the Presidency as most POLITICIANS do!!! I for one will never vote for a POLITICIAN!!! We’ve had our share and look at the MESS we’re in because of them!!!