Iowa Rep. Steve King on Monday endorsed Ted Cruz, a coup for the Texas senator who is seeking to gain ground with the first-in-the-nation caucus state’s conservative activists, with whom King is deeply influential.
He made the announcement at a press conference in Iowa and in a video released on Twitter.
King, an immigration hardliner who did not endorse in 2012, has been heavily courted this cycle by candidates vying to consolidate the conservative base. Recently, for example, he embarked on a pheasant hunt, an annual tradition, with candidates including Cruz, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
But he has long been thought to favor Cruz. His son is involved in a super PAC that backs the senator, and the two have appeared together frequently at events in Iowa.
The next big question is: Who will The FAMiLY Leader endorse?
Terry Schilling is executive director of the American Principles Project.
