New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez will endorse Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign Thursday.
“Marco Rubio is a compelling leader who can unite the country around conservative principles that will improve the lives of all Americans,” the Republican governor said in a statement given to Politico. “The stakes for our great country are too high — and the differences between the candidates too great — for me to remain neutral in this race. I wholeheartedly trust Marco to keep us safe and ensure a better tomorrow.”
The endorsement from Martinez, the chair of the Republican Governors Association and the nation’s only Latina governor, comes at a crucial period of time for Rubio, who won only one state during Super Tuesday.
Martinez, whose name has also been floated as a possible GOP vice presidential pick, will be with Rubio on the campaign trail in Kansas on Friday and at a rally in Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday.
Kansas’ GOP presidential caucus is on Saturday, and voters in Florida, Rubio’s must-win home state, head to the ballots March 15.
New Mexico does not hold its primary until June 7.
On Tuesday, Martinez would not commit to voting for Donald Trump should he be the Republican presidential nominee, though she said she’s “definitely not” voting for Democratic hopefuls Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.
Martinez joins a long list of other current and former governors who have endorsed the Florida senator, including former New York Gov. George Pataki and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
