MANCHESTER, N.H. — Former President Donald Trump’s network of Georgia supporters got a major boost on Monday as Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and nearly half of the Georgia Senate’s GOP caucus endorsed his comeback bid.
The endorsements from Harper and 15 state senators come a day before Trump faces former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in a head-to-head matchup in New Hampshire’s primary.
They are the latest sign that Trump is consolidating support among key Georgia Republicans as the field narrows. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott endorsed Trump over the weekend, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis quit the contest Sunday and backed Trump.
Most top Georgia Republicans have until recently stayed neutral in the White House race, reluctant to back a former president who championed primary challenges against Gov. Brian Kemp and three other GOP incumbents.
But that’s started to change as Georgia’s March 12 primary nears. Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson recently endorsed him, and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones — one of Trump’s first backers in Georgia — has lobbied state lawmakers to join the group.
Harper, who was elected to his statewide post in 2022, said Trump has a “proven track record fighting for our farmers and our agriculture community” and will help the industry grow.
“Now is the time to come together, unite as a party, and broaden our base of support to restore sanity, commonsense and prosperity to our country,” said Harper, a potential candidate for higher office in 2026 who added that he wants to “defeat Joe Biden’s disastrous policies.”
Trump’s Georgia Senate backers include a cross-section of the caucus. Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, one of the Senate’s most powerful Republicans, is on the list. So is state Sen. Jason Anavitarte, who was an early Scott supporter.
And several of the lawmakers were among those who pressed then-Vice President Mike Pence to postpone certification of Biden’s 2020 victory and called for a special legislative session to appoint an alternate slate of presidential electors.
Here’s the full list:
Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper
State Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas
State Sen. Lee Anderson of Grovetown
State Sen. Brandon Beach of Alpharetta
State Sen. Matt Brass of Newnan
State Sen. Clint Dixon of Gwinnett County
State Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming
State Sen. Steve Gooch of Dahlonega
State Sen. Russ Goodman of Cordell
State Sen. Marty Harbin of Tyrone
State Sen. Billy Hickman of Statesboro
State Sen. Colton Moore of Trenton
State Sen. Brian Strickland of McDonough
State Sen. Carden Summers of Cordele
State Sen. Blake Tillery of Vidalia
State Sen. Sam Watson of Moultrie
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