Steve Scalise ‘very well may’ endorse 2024 candidate ahead of Republican primary
Julia Johnson
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EXCLUSIVE — House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has yet to weigh in on who he thinks should be the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, but he isn’t ruling an endorsement out before the primary.
In an exclusive interview with the Washington Examiner, Scalise said he “very well may” make an endorsement ahead of the primary, potentially swaying voters.
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“I’ve got a lot of friends in the race,” he noted. “I mean, I worked very closely with President Trump when he was in office, especially when we were in the majority for those two years.”
“We delivered huge wins for the American people,” the majority leader added. “And President Trump led the way. I don’t think anybody can argue with how successful those policies were.”
However, Scalise added that “right now, we’re focused on trying to get spending under control and push back against the far-left extremism of the Biden administration.”
“That’s been taking a lot of our energy,” he said.
“I know there’s a number of Republicans that are in the early stages of these primaries,” the Louisiana Republican explained. “It will heat up, I’m sure, early next year. And, you know, when you see Iowa [and] New Hampshire really get the official season started.”
Former President Donald Trump currently holds a strong lead ahead of other Republicans vying for the presidential nomination. According to Morning Consult, Trump is supported by 56% of potential Republican primary voters.
Trump additionally enjoys the support of more than 50 members of the House of Representatives, as well as 11 senators.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former Vice President Mike Pence are ranked second and third in support by Morning Consult, respectively, with 22% and 7%.
DeSantis is further supported by five U.S. representatives. Pence, who announced his White House bid Wednesday afternoon, only boasts one congressional endorsement in his brother, Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN).
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Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who share a home state of South Carolina, are also both polling at 3%. Haley enjoys the support of Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) in the House, while Scott is endorsed by fellow Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Mike Rounds (R-SD).
Scalise’s endorsement would likely be worth more than other representatives, in terms of influence, given his position as majority leader. However, it remains to be seen what effect, if any, the endorsement would have on Republican primary voters.