Former Republican House Speaker from Wisconsin Paul Ryan has reportedly been lobbying Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) to endorse former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley for president in 2024, who has seen a boost in momentum over the past several months.
On a Tuesday flight from Canada to Washington, D.C., Gallagher was seen receiving text messages, reportedly from Ryan, encouraging him to throw his support behind Haley, according to Politico.
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“I think now is the time for a guy like you to endorse,” Ryan allegedly said in a message. “Plus, her foreign policy/world views track closest to yours. She brings the most excitement.”
A spokesman for Gallagher told the Washington Examiner, “As Congressman Gallagher has repeatedly said, he has no intention to endorse any candidate at this time.”
The former speaker also allegedly expressed skepticism about Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) ability to expand his share of support in the race. “I like Ron [DeSantis], but don’t think he is the growth stock Niki [sic] is. Just following up per our talk [in] September. Go Packers!”
Gallagher serves as the chairman of both the Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party and the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation.
Ryan’s spokesperson pointed the newspaper toward his praise of Haley’s campaign on CNBC Thursday, according to the report.
Wisconsin, where Ryan and Gallagher hail from, is a battleground state that is expected to play a deciding role in the 2024 election. In 2016, the state helped propel former President Donald Trump to victory. But in 2020, it swung back for Democrats, leading President Joe Biden to a win. In state polls, Trump and Biden have been neck and neck in a possible 2024 rematch. Haley, however, leads Biden significantly in Wisconsin.
Gallagher’s endorsement would be significant, as it would be only the second congressional one for Haley. Haley is only backed by Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) in the legislative bodies.
Trump, who leads the Republican primary field by double digits less than two months from the first nominating contest, boasts the most congressional support, with dozens of representatives and 13 senators endorsing him.
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DeSantis, who is seen as Haley’s biggest opponent in the race other than Trump, is backed by five representatives in Congress.
An additional congressional endorsement would further mark the significant traction Haley has made over the past few months and perhaps give her an extra boost going into the Iowa Republican caucuses on Jan. 15.
