Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R.) locked in another endorsement for president from a member of Congress Wednesday, without yet having announced a campaign.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R., Ky.) became the second Republican House member to endorse DeSantis, calling him a "proven energetic leader," in a statement put out by the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down PAC.
"America needs a leader who is decisive, respects the Constitution, understands policy, puts family first, and leads by inspiring," Massie said. "That’s why I’m endorsing Ron DeSantis for President."
Massie follows Rep. Chip Roy (R., Texas), who endorsed the governor last month. Another representative, Ralph Norman (R., S.C.), came out in favor of former UN ambassador Nikki Haley in February.
The endorsements come as other House Republicans rally behind former president Donald Trump, who was arrested in New York City on Tuesday on charges of falsifying business records surrounding hush money payments. At least three dozen House members have voiced their support for Trump’s 2024 bid.
Recent polling shows Trump’s legal problems have only helped him among Republican primary voters. In a recent Fox News poll, Trump got 54 percent of likely primary voters to DeSantis’s 24 percent. A February poll from Monmouth University had DeSantis ahead 53 to 40 over Trump.