Reps. Miller, Trott endorse Trump for president
U.S. Reps. Candice Miller and David Trott became Wednesday the first Michigan congressional Republicans to endorse New York businessman Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination.
The endorsements came after Trump’s two last opponents, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, decided to end their candidacies and concede the nomination to Trump.
Miller, the 12-year veteran from Harrison Township and chairwoman of the House Administration Committee, made the first endorsement in an interview with Politico. She originally supported former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
“I believe in the good sense of the American people, the voters, and the voters of the Republican party, and they have overwhelmingly spoken,” Miller said in a statement released Wednesday by her office. “I am totally and completely looking forward to President Trump. As our presumptive nominee, I am confident in his candidacy and give him my full support.”
Trott, the freshman lawmaker from Birmingham, last August endorsed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who dropped out of the race in February after the South Carolina primary. Trott is an influential Republican establishment donor who got out of the foreclosure business to run for public office.
“Mr. Trump is giving a voice to millions of Americans who have been ignored by Washington and are disgusted with the failures of the career politicians running this country,” Trott said in a statement.
“Michigan voters know that Hillary Clinton would be a disaster as president and continue the failed policies of the past decade. After a long primary campaign, I am confident that conservatives will unite behind Donald Trump to defeat Hillary Clinton and get our nation back on track.”
U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, the Grand Rapids area Republican who first endorsed Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and then Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for the GOP nomination, has said he would not vote for Trump.
Of the nine Republicans in Michigan’s delegation, three endorsed U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop of Rochester supported Bush.
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton of southwest Michigan and Tim Walberg of Tipton never endorsed in the Republican race.
Trump is expected to have an uphill battle against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in Michigan, especially since Republicans haven’t won the state since 1988. But he has vowed he will win the state, and Miller told Politico she would be willing to campaign with him.
Trump won the Republican primary in Michigan, while Clinton narrowly lost the Democratic primary in an upset by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the democratic socialist.
The bombastic billionaire is hoping his outspokenness against political correctness and protectionist trade policies will make him competitive in the Great Lakes State.