Politics

Nikki Haley gets two Senate endorsements ahead of Super Tuesday primaries

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Published March 1, 2024, 9:28 p.m. ET

Days before Super Tuesday, Nikky Haley landed the first two endorsements from sitting senators for her sputtering campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) on Friday became the first senator to publicly back the former South Carolina governor’s campaign, followed by the Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins.

“I’m proud to endorse Gov. Nikki Haley,” Murkowski said in a statement released by the Haley campaign. “America needs someone with the right values, vigor, and judgment to serve as our next President—and in this race, there is no one better than her.” 

“Nikki will be a strong leader and uphold the ideals of the Republican Party while serving as a President for all Americans.”  

Lisa Murkowski
Murkowski is the first senator to publicly back Haley’s presidential campaign. REUTERS
Nikki Haley
Haley hasn’t won any of the six primary or caucus contests this presidential cycle. Getty Images
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) speaking at a press conference with the families of hostages held by Hamas at the U.S. Capitol.
Collins told reporters on Friday that she was supporting Haley in her state’s primary. Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

Murkowski, 66, has served in the Senate since 2002. She was one of seven Republican senators that voted guilty in former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol. 

Also on Friday Maine’s GOP Senator Susan Collins told reporters that she was supporting Haley in her state’s primary. 

“She has the energy, intellect, and temperament that we need to lead  our country in these very tumultuous times,” Collins told the Bangor Daily News.

Haley, who is Trump’s last remaining GOP primary rival, has attacked the former president throughout the race, arguing that the 77-year-old is too old to serve another White House term and warning that his “chaos” will hurt Republican chances at the ballot boxes in November. 

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The former South Carolina governor said she was “grateful” to have Murkowski’s backing. 

“I’m grateful to Sen. Murkowski for her support and leadership,” Haley, 52, said in a statement. “Sen. Murkowski represents the best of Alaska — she is a trailblazer and a strong, independent voice who doesn’t bow down to the powers that be in Washington.”

“As president, I will fight to make Alaskans — and all Americans — proud by restoring fiscal sanity, energy dominance, and limited government.” 

Alaska GOP presidential caucus and Maine’s GOP primary will both be held on Super Tuesday, March 5, when 15 states will hold primaries and caucuses. 

Haley has yet to win any GOP primary or caucus contests. 

Trump cruised past Haley in Michigan’s GOP primary earlier this week to secure his sixth consecutive first place finish. 

The former president has been endorsed by more than 130 House Republicans and 32 GOP senators, according to the Hill. 

Haley has only been endorsed by Murkowski in the Senate, and Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) in the House of Representatives.