Texas Republican Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump’s public standing sags after Floyd protests GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police MORE endorsed Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel on Tuesday in his bid for an Ohio Senate seat. 

Cruz backed Mandel in a statement lauding the candidate, who is looking to win the right for a rematch against Democratic Sen. Sherrod BrownSherrod Campbell BrownHillicon Valley: Senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests | Amazon pauses police use of its facial recognition tech | FBI warns hackers are targeting mobile banking apps Democratic senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests Some realistic solutions for income inequality MORE, as the type of “conservative leader” that Ohio needs. 

The endorsement comes amid recent rumblings about an unexpected primary challenger for Mandel.

ADVERTISEMENT

“When I first met Josh five years ago, I was immediately impressed by his dedication and passion for advancing conservative principles. He has shown his willingness to stand up and fight for those values, leading the charge in Ohio to stop sanctuary cities, crack down on illegal immigration, and put an end to Common Core,” Cruz said.

“I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with him in the Senate and encourage all Republicans to do the same.”

Mandel is the clear front-runner in the GOP primary, having served as a state lawmaker before taking over as state treasurer. Mandel lost by 6 points to Brown in 2012. 

Cruz’s endorsement puts a key conservative figure in Mandel’s corner, thanks to the Texas senator’s grip on the GOP grassroots. Mandel has sought to position an impressive slate of national Republicans behind his bid in the hopes of shoring up support within the party.

GOP Sens. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioHillicon Valley: Georgia officials launch investigation after election day chaos | Senate report finds Chinese telecom groups operated in US without proper oversight Republican Senators ask FCC to ‘clearly define’ when social media platforms should receive liability protections Trump’s tweet on protester sparks GOP backlash  MORE (Fla.) and Tom CottonTom Bryant CottonOVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (Ark.) have already endorsed him, and Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanSenate subcommittee: IRS should increase oversight of tax-prep companies in Free File program Senate report: Chinese telecom firms operated in US without proper oversight for decades GOP’s Obama-era probes fuel Senate angst MORE, Ohio’s senior Republican senator, backed him last week. 

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Mandel, the only major candidate in the race. He’s bristled at times at the Republican establishment in his state — such as when the GOP-controlled legislature cut the treasurer’s advertising budget amid concerns about his official spending ahead of his Senate race.

And Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) warned Mandel earlier this month that he may not endorse Mandel if “he’s a negative guy.” 

But Mandel has embraced the political stylings of President Trump, who won his state in November by a surprisingly strong 8-point margin. He announced his senatorial bid with a call to “drain the swamp” and blasted a “rigged system,” — two clear call-backs to Trump’s campaign.

He’s apparently hoping that the support from high-profile Republicans and the Trump coalition will help to put him on solid footing against Brown. 

Jake Strassberger, an Ohio Democratic Party spokesman, blasted the endorsement in a statement to The Hill. “These early endorsements aren’t a sign of Josh’s strength, they’re simply an attempt to distract from the fact that the state GOP-controlled legislature is currently cleaning up the mess Josh created by running self-promotional TV ads on the public’s dime,” he said. 

Click Here: Bape Kid 1st Camo Ape Head rompers