Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is expected to endorse Texas Sen. Ted Cruz during a campaign event in Florida on Thursday afternoon.
The endorsement is a blow to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who faces an uphill battle in his home state primary. But it’s a big boost for Cruz, who’s fighting to unite conservatives and the anti-Donald Trump wing of the Republican party around his campaign.
Lee has refused to endorse so far in the GOP primary because of his friendship with Rubio, Cruz, and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who has already left the race. His decision to back Cruz suggests that he does not see Rubio as a viable contender.
“If it came down to a two-person race, say, between Cruz and Trump or Rubio and Trump, then it’s an easy decision to make,” Lee told the Washington Examiner last month.
