Over the last few months, unemployed Florida man and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump has put out a string of endorsements in key battleground states, in an attempt to solidify his kingmaker status. But that hasn’t stopped potential 2024 presidential primary opponents – including those that served in his own cabinet – from making their own endorsements, in a bid to loosen Trump’s grip on the Republican Party.
According to a recent report from Fox News, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie endorsed candidates who are in ugly, contentious primaries with Trump-backed contenders — underlining “things to come once the midterms are over and the contest for the next White House heats up.”
Via Fox News:
- In Pennsylvania, Mike Pompeo and Ted Cruz have endorsed hedge fund CEO David McCormick “in a very crowded, combustible and expensive Republican Senate nomination race.” His opponent, New Jersey resident Mehmet Oz, recently received Donald Trump’s endorsement.
- In the Ohio Republican U.S. Senate primary, Ted Cruz has endorsed Josh Mandel, while Kristi Noem is backing Jane Timken. Both candidates are up against J.D. Vance, who received Trump’s endorsement last Friday.
- In the Georgia Republican Gubernatorial primary, “Trump and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are on opposing sides” with Trump backing David Perdue and Christie backing Gov. Brian Kemp. Kemp is also reportedly receiving help behind the scenes from “advisors to former Vice President Mike Pence.”
- And in South Carolina, “Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, another potential 2024 contender, are on opposing sides in a GOP congressional primary in her home state,” with Trump backing Katie Arrington and Haley siding with Rep. Nancy Mace.
The latest? After bankrolling the campaigns of candidates who have broken from Trump, Pompeo decided to endorse Rep. David McKinley in West Virginia, while Trump has picked Rep. Alex Mooney.Read the full report from Fox News here.
###
Published: Apr 21, 2022