Adam Kinzinger declares that 'as a proud conservative,' he's endorsing President Biden



Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who served more than a decade in Congress as a Republican from Illinois, has announced that "as a proud conservative" he is endorsing incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden for re-election.

Kinzinger declared that "it's because of my unwavering support for Democracy that today, as a proud conservative, I'm endorsing Joe Biden for re-election."

He said that while he does not "agree with President Biden on everything ... I know that he will always protect the very thing that makes America the best country in the world: Our democracy. Donald Trump poses a direct threat to every fundamental American value. He doesn't care about our country. He doesn't care about you. He only cares about himself. And he'll hurt anyone or anything in pursuit of power."

'You can't be conservative and support Biden.'

"This is what putting your country before your party looks like. I'm grateful for your endorsement, Adam," a tweet on the president's @JoeBiden X account reads.

GOP Sen. Mike Lee of Utah responded to the endorsement by pointing out that "you can't be conservative and support Biden."

Kinzinger said last year that in a race between Trump and Biden, he would vote for Biden, noting that he thinks Biden is a "good man" who is "focused on the Constitution."

Kinzinger describes himself on X as a "Proud RINO," and includes American, Ukrainian, and Israeli flag emojis next to his name on the social media platform. He also includes the phrase "Slava Ukraini" which means "Glory to Ukraine."

While in office, Kinzinger was one of the 10 House Republicans who voted in favor of impeaching then-President Donald Trump on the heels of the January 6 Capitol riot in 2021.

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Trump endorsements clash with Rand Paul, Mike Lee picks



Former President Donald Trump, whose endorsement track record has earned criticism from some conservatives, has backed incumbent Republican Rep. Celeste Maloy while Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) are both supporting challenger Colby Jenkins in the Republican primary in Utah's 2nd Congressional District.

Maloy, who entered office late last year, only has a 60% session score from Heritage Action.

'Fight Lawmaking Under the Influence of Kool-Aid ('LUIK').'

"Congresswoman Celeste Maloy is a great advocate for the wonderful people of Utah's 2nd Congressional District! Celeste is fighting to Secure the Border, Create Jobs, Restore American Energy Independence, Support our Military/Veterans, Defend Religious Liberty, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Celeste Maloy has my Complete and Total Endorsement!" Trump declared in a post on Truth Social.

Lee, who has said of Jenkins that "when he gets to Washington, he'll make me look like a RINO by comparison," has also tweeted, "Now more than ever, we need lawmakers in Congress who won't drink the Swamp Kool-Aid. Colby Jenkins doesn't even like Kool-Aid. In fact, he's allergic to it. Fight Lawmaking Under the Influence of Kool-Aid ('LUIK'). Elect @ColbyforUtah."

Paul and Lee are also supporting incumbent Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) for re-election in Virginia's 5th Congressional District. But Trump, who has been claiming that Good is "BAD" for the country, is backing Republican state Sen. John McGuire.

Good, who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, has a 100% session score from Heritage Action.

Lee has described Good as "a true, proven, constitutional conservative."

Paul has asserted that Good "is THE liberty loving conservative in this race."

In a statement to Blaze News last week, Good said, "Trump endorsed against me in the nomination contest in 2020 when I ran against incumbent Denver Riggleman. I won that contest overwhelmingly. I plan to win this race overwhelmingly. The people of this district know I am an America First candidate and I have been fighting for the America First agenda since I was sworn into office in January of 2021."

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Trump says he wants Larry Hogan to win US Senate contest



Former President Donald Trump said that he would like former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to win election to the U.S. Senate. The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee made the comment after being asked by Fox News Channel's Aishah Hasnie whether he will support Hogan to win the seat.

Then, when asked whether he is endorsing Hogan, Trump said, "essentially I would be endorsing him, yeah."

'I am excited to launch Democrats for Hogan ... '

Hogan has never voted for Trump. In 2016, he wrote in his father, Larry Hogan Sr., and in 2020 he wrote in the late President Ronald Reagan. He has indicated that he won't vote for Trump or Biden in 2024.

Hogan, who is a Republican, is seeking to secure some Democratic support during the election. "I am excited to launch Democrats for Hogan and have my good friend and former Democratic State Senator Bobby Zirkin on our team," Hogan tweeted last month.

The Senate candidate has indicated that he would "support legislation that makes Roe the law of the land, in every state, so every woman gets the reproductive care she needs, because no one should come between a woman and her doctor."

In a tweet that appears to have been posted shortly before a jury delivered a verdict finding Trump guilty on all counts in a New York criminal trial, Hogan declared, "Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders—regardless of party—must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law."

— (@)

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Pence says he's not endorsing Trump in 2024



Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served alongside then-President Donald Trump from early 2017 through early 2021, has said that he will not endorse Trump during the 2024 presidential contest.

Pence told Fox News Channel's Martha MacCallum, "It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year."

Pence, who launched a GOP presidential primary bid in 2023 but then dropped out later that same year, said that he had been clear during his campaign that "profound differences" separated him from Trump "on a range of issues."

When MacCallum pressed Pence about who he plans to vote for this year, the former vice president said that he will keep his vote to himself. But when she asked Pence if he will vote for Biden, Pence decisively rejected that idea: "I would never vote for Joe Biden," he said. And when McCallum asked whether Pence plans to run third-party, the former vice president responded, "I'm a Republican, Martha."

Trump is the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee while Biden is the presumptive 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.


Pence and Trump had a falling out at the tail end of their time in office

"The Vice President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors," Trump tweeted in January 2021. "If Vice President @Mike_Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency. Many States want to decertify the mistake they made in certifying incorrect & even fraudulent numbers in a process NOT approved by their State Legislatures (which it must be). Mike can send it back!" he wrote in another tweet.

But Pence noted, "It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not."

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After poor showing in Iowa GOP presidential caucus, Ramaswamy drops out, endorses Trump



Author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who came in a distant fourth place in Iowa's GOP presidential caucus, has dropped out and endorsed former President Donald Trump.

Trump won the contest on Monday, trouncing the rest of the GOP presidential primary field, though the delegates will be allocated proportionally based on how much of the vote each candidate won.

Ramaswamy said that he called Trump to congratulate him on the win and told him that he had his endorsement.

Last month, Trump had predicted that Ramaswamy would endorse him.

Live from Des Moines, IA | Vivek 2024 Caucus Night Press Conference www.youtube.com

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New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu endorses Nikki Haley for president



New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) has endorsed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for president.

"To go and get endorsed by the live free or die governor is about as rock solid of an endorsement as we could hope for," Haley declared while standing with Sununu at an event.

— (@)

"I AM enthusiastically endorsing Nikki Haley for president of the United States, and I am asking New Hampshire voters to join me in being a part of this movement. We must support the best conservative candidate in this race who can win in November 2024 to deliver results in 2025," Sununu wrote in an op-ed.

"I consider Governors Ron DeSantis and Chris Christie friends, and I believe they would both make strong presidents. But in 2024, Republicans must unite around the candidate that has the best chance at defeating Donald Trump in the primary so that we can get back to winning up and down the ballot," he wrote.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president last month.

The New Hampshire GOP presidential primary will be held on January 23, while the Iowa GOP caucus will take place on January 15.

Former President Donald Trump has been maintaining a decisive lead over the GOP presidential primary field, according to polls.

Last week, DeSantis, Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy participated in the fourth GOP presidential primary debate. Trump, who has not attended any of the debates, offered his thoughts in a post on Truth Social, writing, "Vivek WINS because he thinks I'm great." Trump also continued referring to Haley as "Birdbrain." Haley served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during a portion of Trump's White House tenure.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson says he endorsed Trump



House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says that he has endorsed former President Donald Trump.

Johnson made the comment after Joe Kernen of "Squawk Box" noted that as far as he was aware, Johnson had not yet endorsed Trump for the 2024 election.

Johnson said that he has endorsed Trump: "I have endorsed him wholeheartedly," he said. "I'm all-in for President Trump," he said, noting that he expects Trump to be the GOP nominee.

— (@)

Polls indicate that Trump is positioned to trounce the rest of the GOP presidential primary field and easily secure the party's nomination again.

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who was one of the five candidates on stage in Miami last week at the third GOP presidential primary debate, recently dropped his White House bid. The other four candidates who participated in that debate included former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump has not attended any of the debates so far. A fourth debate is scheduled to take place in Alabama on December 6.

Johnson became House speaker last month after Republicans struggled to coalesce around a candidate in the wake of the ouster of prior House Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Eight Repubilcans had joined with Democrats to vote in favor of removing McCarthy from the role.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds endorsed DeSantis last week, while Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as White House press secretary during a portion of Trump's White House tenure, endorsed the former president.

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BlazeTV host Steve Deace offers full-throated endorsement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president



BlazeTV host Steve Deace has endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president, throwing his support behind the White House hopeful during an episode of "The Steve Deace Show" during which he also interviewed the Sunshine State governor.

Deace said that he has never seen an individual who, on matters that will determine the future for people's kids and grandkids, "has more knowledge, more willingness, more resume in understanding them, what to do about them, and then actually doing them."

During remarks on Deace's show, DeSantis said the U.S. needs "a new birth of freedom," which he said includes tossing President Joe Biden's regulations, "declaring economic independence from the Chinese Communist Party," and securing the border. DeSantis also said he would "bring a reckoning for the COVID-19 policies," "take on the woke agenda," and "restore the military to mission first."

ENDORSED: Why Ron DeSantis Is the STRONG Leader America Needs | Guest: Ron DeSantis | 8/11/23 www.youtube.com

DeSantis noted in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that he is honored to get Deace's endorsement.

"I'm honored to receive the endorsement from the great @SteveDeaceShow," DeSantis tweeted. "Like so many Iowans, Steve knows the time for excuses is over. We will get the job done in 2024!"

"Thank you @RonDeSantis for earning my support, by proving in the field of battle you are the strongest leader in this race for my kids, and they desperately need a strong America. It is time to not just market and message MAGA — but to actually do the MAGA. 2024 is a must win," Deace responded.

— (@)

Polling indicates that former President Donald Trump has been trouncing the rest of the GOP presidential primary field, with DeSantis — who decisively won re-election last year during Florida's 2022 gubernatorial election contest — trailing in a distant second place.

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Another Florida Republican backs Trump for president



GOP Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida has endorsed former President Donald Trump for president, joining a group of Sunshine State Republicans who have thrown their support behind Trump even as the possibility that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis may throw his hat into the ring looms large.

"There is only one leader at this time in our nation’s history who can seize this moment and deliver what we need - to get us back on track, provide strength and resolve, and Make America Great Again. That is why I am honored to endorse President Donald J. Trump for President in 2024, and I ask my fellow Americans to join me today," Donalds said in a statement.

\u201cI am honored to endorse President Donald J. Trump for President in 2024, and I ask my fellow Americans to join me today.\n\nRead my entire statement here: \nhttps://t.co/OAsUwWuoUk\u201d
— Byron Donalds (@Byron Donalds) 1680796271

Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna and Matt Gaetz, both of Florida, had already declared their support for Trump.

During a Trump rally in Texas last month, Gaetz said that DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas should both endorse the former president.

\u201cWATCH: At the Trump Rally in Waco, @MattGaetz calls on Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz to stand with MAGA and endorse Donald Trump for President.\n\nCrowd erupts in a standing ovation.\u201d
— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1679775317

While DeSantis has not announced a presidential bid, GOP Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Thomas Massie of Kentucky have both already endorsed him.

DeSantis has said that he believes he has what it takes to be president and that he thinks he could defeat President Joe Biden.

Biden has not yet launched a re-election bid but has said that he intends to run. Democrat Marianne Williamson, who ran during the last election cycle before ultimately dropping out, is running again. And a statement of candidacy filed with the Federal Election Commission indicates that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is poised to run for president as a Democrat.

So far on the Republican side, Trump is being challenged by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

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'It's time for Ron DeSantis to be President': Rep. Chip Roy issues full-throated endorsement of Florida governor



Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is advocating for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to become the 2024 GOP presidential nominee, issuing a full-throated endorsement before the Sunshine State governor has even announced a White House bid.

DeSantis is widely expected to announce a presidential run in the coming months, but Roy is already calling for two terms of a DeSantis presidency.

"America needs a leader who will truly defend her and empower the people against the destructive force of unrestrained government and corporate excess, profligate spending, and woke cultural indoctrination," Roy said in the statement. "That leader is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis."

"When Republicans choose our 2024 presidential nominee — whom I intend to support against Joe Biden or any other Democrat candidate — I believe it's time for a new generation of leadership. It's time for younger, but proven, leadership to offer America eight solid years of transformational change," Roy said. "It's time for Ron DeSantis to be President of the United States."

None
— (@)

DeSantis, who has served as Florida governor since early 2019, won a resounding re-election victory during Florida's 2022 gubernatorial election contest.

Mounting a presidential bid would mean challenging former President Donald Trump, who has already announced that he is running again — Trump has already been taking shots at DeSantis, such as by referring to him as "Ron DeSanctimonious."

"FLORIDA WAS DOING GREAT FOR MANY YEARS, LONG BEFORE RON DESANCTUS GOT THERE. THE SUNSHINE AND OCEAN ARE WONDERFUL THINGS TO HAVE!" Trump declared earlier this month in a post on Truth Social.

Ken Cuccinelli, who served as acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and as acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under Trump's administration, has also backed DeSantis — Cuccinelli has launched a super PAC to advocate for a DeSantis run and to build a base of support ready to back the governor in the event that he gets into the race.

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