ST. LOUIS – Congresswoman Ann Wagner, R-MO 2nd, threw her support behind U.S. Senator Ted Cruz for president Friday morning. Missouri holds their presidential preference primary on Tuesday.
“I am proud to endorse Senator Ted Cruz ahead of the GOP Primary on March 15th,” Wagner said in a statement. “Republicans must unite to win behind a strong, constitutional conservative like Ted Cruz.”
Cruz will campaign in suburban St. Louis on Saturday at a rally with Carly Fiorina, the former presidential candidate who backed Cruz earlier this week.
“Missouri families deserve a trusted conservative leader like Ted Cruz who shares our values and will fight for us in Washington,” Wagner said. “I hope Missourians will join me in voting for Ted Cruz on Tuesday.”
Cruz praised Wagner, a former chair of the state Republican Party as well as a former Republican National Committee co-chair, as a principled conservative and a fighter. Wagner was elected to congress in 2012.
“As a mother of three, a businesswoman, and fierce defender of our shared conservative values, Congresswoman Wagner is a wonderful addition to our team,” Cruz said in the same statement. “Across the nation we are uniting the Republican Party, and I’m excited to have Ann’s support in this Tuesday’s critical Missouri Primary.”
Wagner previously endorsed Jeb Bush, who has since dropped out of the race.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.