Florida GOP congressional delegation rushing to back Trump over DeSantis

Donald Trump keeps piling up endorsements in Florida as he works to put Gov. Ron DeSantis on the defensive in his home state, with nine members of Florida's congressional delegation now saying they back the former president, the latest being U.S. Reps Vern Buchanan and Michael Waltz.

Trump called Buchanan Wednesday afternoon, and the congressman issued his endorsement shortly afterward. Waltz endorsed Trump Thursday.

"If we want to get our economy back on track, Donald Trump is just the guy to get it done," Buchanan said. "From lowering taxes to protecting our borders to promoting America-first trade deals, President Trump has done it before and will do it again."

Waltz cited Trump's economic record, foreign policy and other initiatives in a statement announcing his endorsement.

More: DeSantis trying to halt Trump's momentum in Florida after congressional endorsements

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In addition to Buchanan and Waltz, Florida congressmen Greg Steube, John Rutherford and Brian Mast all endorsed Trump this week, joining fellow Florida U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Cory Mills and Anna Paulina Luna in backing the former president. Time Magazine is reporting that two more Florida congressmen, Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Carlos Gimenez, are poised to endorse Trump soon.

DeSantis picked up an endorsement from Laurel Lee, who currently is the only member of Florida's congressional delegation to back him. Lee served as DeSantis' secretary of state before running for Congress.

The string of recent Florida endorsements for Trump comes after NBC News reported that DeSantis' political operation has been calling Republicans in Florida's congressional delegation - including Steube and Buchanan - to try to keep them from backing the former president.

DeSantis' push to halt Trump's momentum in Florida started after Donalds' endorsement, which is particularly notable because he has been considered a DeSantis ally. The Naples Republican introduced DeSantis at his victory party on election night last year.

Steube told the Herald-Tribune that DeSantis' team reached out to him recently. He assumed they wanted to talk about his endorsement, but did not speak with them.

Steube later told Politico's D.C. Playbook that DeSantis never personally contacted him "during his five years in Congress nor replied to his multiple attempts to connect." Steube also said that DeSantis' aides invited him to stand with DeSantis at a press conference on Hurricane Ian damage, only to exclude him from the event when he showed up.

Trump was the first person Steube remembers calling him when he was severely injured recently in a tree-trimming accident, he told Politico.

“To this day I have not heard from Gov. DeSantis,” he said.

Trump's style of personally connecting with lawmakers to discuss their endorsements contrasts with DeSantis, who had aides reach out to members of Florida's congressional delegation, according to NBC.

DeSantis' inability to muster support from Republican lawmakers on his home turf is raising questions about his political skills, and whether he has neglected to build key relationships and court the type of backers he needs to mount a successful presidential campaign.

Trump's campaign has eagerly touted each new Florida endorsement. On Thursday the campaign made a point of noting that Waltz represents the congressional district that DeSantis once represented.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida U.S. Rep Vern Buchanan endorses Donald Trump over Ron DeSantis