National Endorsements

Endorsements by federal and statewide elected officials help provide credibility to a candidacy.  This page shows endorsements in the 2012 Republican presidential primary campaign up to the time former Gov. Mitt Romney became the presumptive nominee on April 10, 2012.  One sees the clear establishment support for Romney: endorsements from 10 governors (plus three territorial governors), 19 U.S. Senators and 78 U.S. House members.  By comparison just six congressmen endorsed Santorum (three from his home state of Pennsylvania), and two governors and ten congressmen (five from Georgia) endorsed Gingrich.  See also pre-Iowa caucus endorsements (i.e. endorsements prior to first votes being cast), and 2008 primary endorsements.

    
     NATIONAL  |  IOWA  |  NEW HAMPSHIRE  |  SOUTH CAROLINA   |  FLORIDA     
    see also:  NEWSPAPERS  |  ORGANIZATIONS

     through April 10, 2012. * = endorsement made after the state's primary or caucus

Mitt Romney
Gov. Jan Brewer (AZ)  02/26/12 +
Gov. Butch Otter (ID)  06/20/11 +
Gov. Rick Snyder (MI)  02/16/12 +
Gov. Phil Bryant (MS)  03/08/12 +
Gov. Dave Heineman (NE)  06/10/11 +
Gov. Chris Christie (NJ)  10/11/11 +
Gov. Nikki Haley (SC)  12/16/11 +
Gov. Bill Haslam (TN)  01/11/12 +
Gov. Bob McDonnell (VA)  01/20/12 +
Gov. Gary Herbert (UT)  02/02/12 +
Gov. Luis Fortuño (PR)  01/27/12 +
Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo (GU)  03/09/12
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial (CNMI)  03/09/12

19 Senators
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK)   12/02/11 +
Sen. John McCain (AZ)  01/05/12 +
Sen. Jim Risch (ID)   06/20/11 +
Sen. Mark Kirk (IL)  12/19/11 +
Sen. Scott Brown (MA)
Sen. Thad Cochran (MS)  10/12/11 +
Sen. Roy Blunt (MO)  09/20/11 +
Sen. Mike Johanns (NE)  12/21/11 +
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (NH)  11/20/11 +
Sen. Richard Burr (NC)  12/29/11 +
Sen. John Hoeven (ND)  11/18/11 +
Sen. Rob Portman (OH)  01/19/12 +
Sen. Tom Coburn (OK)  03/04/12
Sen. John Thune (SD)  11/23/11 +
Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN)  02/24/12 +
Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT)   07/06/11 (note date of formal endorsement, Hatch is a longtime supporter and expressed preference for Romney in 2010)
Sen. Mike Lee (UT)  03/26/12  +
Sen. Ron Johnson (WI)  04/01/12 +
*Sen. Marco Rubio (FL)  03/28/12 +

...78 House members
Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-3)  08/30/11

Rep. Jeff Flake (AZ-6)  09/19/11 +

Rep. Tim Griffin (AR-2)  10/05/11 +
Rep. Steve Womack (AR-3)  01/19/12 +

Rep. Wally Herger (CA-2)  09/21/11 +
Rep. Jeff Denham (CA-19)  03/27/12 +
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA-22)  03/26/12 +
Rep. Buck McKeon (CA-25)  06/23/11
Rep. Jerry Lewis (CD-41)  12/06/11 +
Rep. Ken Calvert (CD-44)  12/06/11
Rep. Mary Bono Mack (CA-45)  06/23/11
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (CA-46)  12/12/11 +
Rep. John Campbell (CA-48)  07/20/11
Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-49)  09/22/11 +
Rep. Brian Bibray (CD-50)  12/06/11

Rep. Jeff Miller (FL-1)  10/28/11 +
Rep. Ander Crenshaw (FL-2)  06/16/11
Rep. John Mica (FL-7)  01/16/12 +
Rep. Connie Mack (FL-14)  reported by St. Petersburg Times on 04/14/11
Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-16)  06/16/11
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18)  11/29/11 +
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-21)  11/29/11
Rep. Sandy Adams (FL-24)  01/18/12 +

Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-1)  06/20/11

Rep. Robert Dold (IL-10)  11/14/11 +
Rep. Judy Biggert (IL-13)  10/12/11 +
Rep. Aaron Schock (IL-18)  11/08/11 +
Rep. John Shimkus (IL-19)  03/18/12 +

Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-4)  09/23/11 +

Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-1)  10/17/11 +
Rep. Harold Rogers (KY-5)  10/17/11

Rep. Rodney Alexander (LA-5)  10/06/11 +

Rep. Dan Benishek (MI-1)  01/20/12 +
Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-2)   01/09/12 +
Rep. Dave Camp (MI-4)  12/20/11 +
Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6)  02/08/12 +
Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-7)  02/08/12
Rep. Mike Rogers (MI-8)  12/22/11 +
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11)  09/22/11 +
*Rep. Candice Miller (MI-10)  03/21/12 + 

Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-3)  01/26/12 +

Rep. Billy Long (MO-7)  01/12/12 +

Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-2)  10/26/11 +
Rep. Joe Heck (NV-3)  03/22/11

Rep. Charlie Bass (NH-2)  11/21/11 +

Rep. Leonard Lance (NJ-7)  10/26/11

Rep. Michael Grimm (NY-13)  10/10/11 +
Rep. Nan Hayworth (NY-19)  11/04/11 +

Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC-5)  10/17/11
Rep. Howard Coble (NC-6)  10/17/11 +
Rep. Patrick McHenry (NC-10)  10/17/11

Rep. Mike Turner (OH-3)  01/17/12 +
Rep. Steve LaTourette (OH-14)  02/21/12 +
Rep. Jim Renacci (OH-16)  10/25/11 +

Rep. Greg Walden (OR-2)  10/14/11 +

Rep. Jim Gerlach (PA-6)  11/09/11 +
Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8)  03/27/12 +
Rep. Bill Shuster (PA-9)  03/13/12 +
Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15)  03/13/12

Rep. Phil Roe (TN-1)  12/05/11
Rep. Jimmy Duncan (TN-2)   12/05/11 +
Rep. Diane Black (TN-6)  12/05/11
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (TN-4)  03/02/12  +

Rep. Mike Conaway (TX-11)  01/20/12 +
Rep. Kay Granger (TX-12)  01/20/12
Rep. Mac Thornberry (TX-13)  04/05/12 +
Rep. Lamar Smith (TX-21)  10/26/11 +
Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22)  01/20/12
Rep. John Carter (TX-31)  04/05/12
Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-32)  04/05/12

Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-1)  07/06/11
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT-3)  07/05/11

Rep. Eric Cantor (VA-7)  03/04/12

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-3)  02/06/12 +
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5)  12/07/11 +
Rep. Dave Reichert (WA-8)  02/28/12 +

Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-1)  03/30/12 +
Rep. Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL)  11/14/11 +
Newt Gingrich
Gov. Nathan Deal (GA)  05/24/11 +
Gov. Rick Perry (TX)  01/19/12 +

Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-2)  01/13/12 +

Rep. Dan Lungren (CA-3)

Rep. David Rivera (FL-26)  01/12

Rep. Jack Kingston (GA-1)  05/17/11 +
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-3)   12/08/11 +
Rep. Tom Price (GA-6)  05/13/11
Rep. Scott Austin (GA-8)
Rep. Phil Gingrey (GA-11)

Rep. Dan Burton (IN-5)

Rep. Andy Harris (MD-1)  11/29/11

Rep. Joe Barton (TX-6)  05/12/11
Rep. Michael Burgess (TX-26)


Ron Paul
Sen. Rand Paul (KY)

Rep. Tim Johnson (IL-15)  03/13/12 +
Rep. Justin Amash (MI-3)  09/20/11 +
Rep. Walter Jones (NC-3)


Rick Santorum
Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-4)  02/24/12 +

Rep. Alan Nunnelee (MS-1)  03/13/12 +

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-8)  03/10/12 +

Rep. Glenn Thompson (PA-5)  reported by The Hill on 01/07/12
Rep. Tom Marino (PA-10)  01/13/12 +
Rep. Lou Barletta (PA-11)  01/12/12 +

also note: rec'd vote of Gov. Robert Bentley (AL) +



Rick Perry
Gov. Sam Brownback (KS)  09/22/11 +
Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA)  09/12/11 +
Gov. Brian Sandoval (NV)  09/13/11 +

Sen. Jim Inhofe (OK)  08/29/11 +

Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-6)  10/17/11 +

Rep. Steve Scalise (LA-1)  08/31/11 +

Rep. Candice Miller (MI-10)  09/08/11 +

Rep. Sam Graves (MO-6)  reported by the Post-Dispatch on 08/14/11

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (SC-5)  09/05/11 +

Rep. Sam Johnson (TX-3)
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (TX-5)  08/25/11
Rep. John Culberson (TX-7)  on ABC News Topline 08/17/11
Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10)  reported by Roll Call on 08/12/11
Rep. Mike Conaway (TX-11)
Rep. Kenny Marchant (TX-24)  09/10/11 +
Rep. John Carter (TX-31)
Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-32)  08/25/11


Michele Bachmann
Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-2)  12/01/11 +


Herman Cain
 Proud to announce that I've received the endorsement of . Benishek (R-MI)"
ed. this was never confirmed.


Tim Pawlenty
Rep. John Kline (MN-2)  02/24/11
Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-3)
Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-2)  06/09/11

Republican Governors (29 + PR)
Robert Bentley (AL)no endorse*

Sean Parnell (AK)no endorse

Jan Brewer (AZ)ROMNEY

Rick Scott (FL)no endorse

Nathan Deal (GA)GINGRICH

Butch Otter (ID)ROMNEY

Mitch Daniels (IN)
 Terry Branstad (IA)no endorse

Sam Brownback (KS)PERRY

Bobby Jindal (LA)PERRY

Paul LePage (ME)no endorse

Rick Snyder (MI)ROMNEY

Phil Bryant (MS)ROMNEY

Dave Heineman (NE)ROMNEY 		Brian Sandoval (NV)PERRY

Chris Christie (NJ)ROMNEY

Susana Martinez (NM)

Jack Dalrymple (ND)no endorse

John Kasich (OH)no endorse

Mary Fallin (OK)no endorse

Tom Corbett (PA)

Luis Fortuño (PR)ROMNEY
 Nikki Haley (SC)ROMNEY

Dennis Daugaard (SD)

Bill Haslam (TN)ROMNEY

Rick Perry (TX)SELFGINGRICH

Gary Herbert (UT)ROMNEY

Bob McDonnell (VA)ROMNEY

Scott Walker (WI)no endorse

Matt Mead (WY)no endorse
*Gov. Bentley did not endorse, but did reveal the morning of the primary that he voted for Santorum.

Republican U.S. Senators (47)
Jeff Sessions (AL)
Richard Shelby (AL)

Lisa Murkowski (AK)ROMNEY

Jon Kyl (AZ)
John McCain (AZ)ROMNEY

John Boozman (AR)

Marco Rubio (FL)

Saxby Chambliss (GA)
Johnny Isakson (GA)

Mike Crapo (ID)
James Risch (ID)ROMNEY 		Mark Kirk (IL)ROMNEY

Dan Coats (IN)
Richard Lugar (IN)

Chuck Grassley (IA)

Jerry Moran (KS)
Pat Roberts (KS) 

Mitch McConnell (KY)
Rand Paul (KY)PAUL

David Vitter (LA)

Scott Brown (MA)ROMNEY

Susan Collins (ME)
Olympia Snowe (ME)
Thad Cochran (MS)ROMNEY
Roger Wicker (MS)

Roy Blunt (MO)ROMNEY

Mike Johanns (NE)ROMNEY

Dean Heller (NV)

Kelly Ayotte (NH)ROMNEY

Richard Burr (NC)ROMNEY

John Hoeven (ND)ROMNEY

Rob Portman (OH)ROMNEY

Tom Coburn (OK)ROMNEY
James Inhofe (OK)PERRY
Pat Toomey (PA)

Jim DeMint (SC)
Lindsey Graham (SC)

John Thune (SD)ROMNEY

Lamar Alexander (TN)ROMNEY
Bob Corker (TN)

John Cornyn (TX)
Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)

Orrin Hatch (UT)ROMNEY
Mike Lee (UT)ROMNEY

Ron Johnson (WI)ROMNEY

John Barrasso (WY)
Mike Enzi (WY)


*endorsements after primary or caucus:
Marco Rubio (FL) ROMNEY

Republican U.S. House Members
ALABAMA (6 of 7)
1. Jo Bonner
2. Martha Roby
3. Mike RogersROMNEY
4. Robert AderholtSANTORUM
5. Mo Brooks
6. Spencer Bachus

ALASKA (1 of 1)
AL. Don Young

ARIZONA (5 of 7)
1. Paul Gosar
2. Trent FranksBACHMANN/GINGRICH
3. Ben Quayle
5. David Schweikert
6. Jeff FlakeROMNEY

ARKANSAS (3 of 4)
1. Rick Crawford
2. Tim GriffinROMNEY
3. Steve WomackROMNEY

CALIFORNIA (19 of 51)
2. Wally HergerROMNEY
3. Dan LungrenGINGRICH
4. Tom McClintock
19. Jeff DenhamROMNEY
21. Devin Nunes
22. Kevin McCarthyROMNEY
24. Elton Gallegly
25. Buck McKeonROMNEY
26. David Dreier
40. Ed Royce
41. Jerry LewisROMNEY
42. Gary Miller
44. Ken CalvertROMNEY
45. Mary BonoROMNEY
46. Dana RohrabacherROMNEY
48. John CampbellROMNEY
49. Darrell IssaROMNEY
50. Brian BilbrayROMNEY
52. Duncan Hunter

COLORADO (4 of 7)
3. Scott Tipton
4. Cory Gardner
5. Doug Lamborn
6. Mike Coffman

CONNECTICUT (0 of 5)

DELAWARE (0 of 1)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (0 of 1)

FLORIDA (19 of 25)
1. Jeff MillerROMNEY
2. Steve Southerland
4. Ander CrenshawROMNEY
5. Richard Nugent
6. Cliff Stearns
7. John MicaROMNEY
8. Daniel Webster
9. Gus Bilirakis
10. C.W. Bill Young
12. Dennis Ross
13. Vern Buchanan
14. Connie MackROMNEY
15. Bill Posey
16. Tom RooneyROMNEY
18 Ileana Ros-LehtinenROMNEY
21 Mario Diaz-BalartROMNEY
22. Alan West
24. Sandy AdamsROMNEY
25. David RiveraGINGRICH

GEORGIA (8 of 13)
1. Jack KingstonGINGRICH
3. Lynn A. WestmorelandGINGRICH
6. Tom PriceGINGRICH
7. Robert Woodall
8. Scott AustinGINGRICH
9. Tom Graves
10. Paul Broun
11. Phil GingreyGINGRICH 		HAWAII (0 of 2)

IDAHO (2 of 2)
1. Raul Labrador
2. Mike SimpsonROMNEY

ILLINOIS (11 of 19)
6. Peter Roskam
8. Joe Walsh
10. Robert DoldROMNEY
11. Adam Kinzinger
13. Judy BiggertROMNEY
14 Randy Hultgren
15. Timothy JohnsonPAUL
16. Donald Manzullo
17. Bobby Schilling
18. Aaron SchockROMNEY
19. John ShimkusROMNEY

INDIANA (6 of 9)
3. Marlin Stutzman
4. Todd RokitaROMNEY
5. Dan BurtonGINGRICH
6. Mike Pence
8. Larry Bucshon
9. Todd Young

IOWA (2 of 5)
4. Tom Latham
5. Steve King

KANSAS (4 of 4)
1. Tim Huelskamp
2. Lynn Jenkins
3. Kevin Yoder
4. Mike Pompeo

KENTUCKY (4 of 6)
1. Ed WhitfieldROMNEY
2. Brett Guthrie
4. Geoff Davis
5. Harold RogersROMNEY

LOUISIANA (6 of 7)
1. Steve ScalisePERRY
3. Jeff Landry
4. John Fleming
5. Rodney AlexanderROMNEY
6. William Cassidy
7. Charles Boustany Jr.

MAINE (0 of 2)

MARYLAND (2 of 8)
1. Andy HarrisGINGRICH
6. Roscoe Bartlett

MASSACHUSETTS (0 of 10)

MICHIGAN (9 of 15)
1. Dan BenishekROMNEY
2. Bill HuizengaROMNEY
3. Justin AmashPAUL
4. Dave CampROMNEY
6. Fred UptonROMNEY
7. Tim WalbergROMNEY
8. Mike RogersROMNEY
10. Candice MillerPERRY*
11. Thaddeus McCotterSELF
ROMNEY

MINNESOTA (4 of 8)
2. John KlinePAWLENTY
3. Erik PaulsenPAWLENTY
ROMNEY
6. Michele BachmannSELF
8. Chip Cravaack

MISSISSIPPI (3 of 4)
1. Alan NunneleeSANTORUM
3. Gregg Harper
4. Steven Palazzo

MISSOURI (6 of 9)
2. Todd Akin
4. Vicky Hartzler
6. Sam GravesPERRY
7. Billy LongROMNEY
8. Jo Ann EmersonSANTORUM
9. Blaine Luetkemeyer
 MONTANA (1 of 1)
AL. Dennis Rehberg

NEBRASKA (3 of 3)
1. Jeff Fortenberry
2. Terry Lee
3. Adrian Smith

NEVADA (2 of 3)
2. Mark AmodeiROMNEY
3. Joe HeckROMNEY

NEW HAMPSHIRE (2 of 2)
1. Frank Guinta
2. Charles BassROMNEY

NEW JERSEY (6 of 13)
2. Frank LoBiondo
3. Jon Runyan
4. Chris Smith
5. Scott Garrett
7. Leonard LanceROMNEY
11. Rodney Frelinghuysen

NEW MEXICO (1 of 3)
2. Steve Pearce

NEW YORK (8 of 29)
3. Pete King
9. Bob Turner
13. Michael GrimmROMNEY
19. Nan HayworthROMNEY
20. Chris Gibson
24. Richard Hanna
25. Mary Ann Buerkle
29. Tom Reed

NORTH CAROLINA (6 of 13)
2. Renee Ellmers
3. Walter JonesPAUL
5. Virginia FoxxROMNEY
6. Howard CobleROMNEY
9. Sue Myrick
10 Patrick McHenryROMNEY

NORTH DAKOTA (1 of 1)
AL. Rick Berg

OHIO (13 of 18)
1. Steve Chabot
2. Jean Schmidt
3. Michael TurnerROMNEY
4. Jim Jordan
5. Robert Latta
6. Bill Johnson
7. Steve Austria
8. John Boehner
12. Pat Tiberi
14. Steven LaTouretteROMNEY
15. Steve Stivers
16. Jim RenacciROMNEY
18. Bob Gibbs

OKLAHOMA (4 of 5)
1. John Sullivan
3. Frank Lucas
4. Tom Cole
5. James Lankford

OREGON (1 of 5)
2. Greg WaldenROMNEY

PENNSYLVANIA (12 of 19)
3. Mike Kelly
5. Glenn ThompsonSANTORUM
6. Jim GerlachROMNEY
7. Pat Meehan
8. Mike FitzpatrickROMNEY
9. Bill ShusterROMNEY
10. Tom MarinoSANTORUM
11. Lou BarlettaSANTORUM
15. Charles DentROMNEY
16. Joe Pitts
18. Tim Murphy
19. Todd Platts
 PUERTO RICO (0 of 1)

RHODE ISLAND (0 of 2)

SOUTH CAROLINA (5 of 6)
1. Tim Scott
2. Joe WilsonPAWLENTY
3. Jeff Duncan
4. Trey Gowdy
5. Mick MulvaneyPERRY

SOUTH DAKOTA (1 of 1)
AL. Kristi Noem

TENNESSEE (7 of 9)
1. Phil RoeROMNEY
2. John Duncan, Jr.ROMNEY
3. Chuck Fleischmann
4. Scot DesJarlaisROMNEY
6. Diane BlackROMNEY
7. Marsha Blackburn
8. Stephen Fincher

TEXAS (23 of 32)
1. Louie Gohmert
2. Ted Poe
3. Sam JohnsonPERRY
4. Ralph Hall
5. Jeb. HensarlingPERRY
6. Joe BartonGINGRICH
7. John CulbersonPERRY
8. Kevin Brady
10. Michael McCaulPERRY
11. Michael ConawayPERRYROMNEY
12. Kay GrangerROMNEY
13. Mac ThornberryROMNEY
14. Ron PaulSELF
17. Bill Flores
19. Randy Neugebauer
21. Lamar SmithROMNEY
22. Pete OlsonROMNEY
23. Francisco Canseco
24. Kenny MarchantPERRY
26. Michael BurgessGINGRICH
27. Blake Farenthold
31. John CarterPERRYROMNEY
32. Pete SessionsPERRYROMNEY

UTAH (2 of 3)
1. Rob BishopROMNEY
3. Jason ChaffetzROMNEY

VERMONT (0 of 1)

VIRGINIA (8 of 11)
1. Robert Wittman
2. Scott Rigell
4. Randy Forbes
5. Robert Hurt
6. Bob Goodlatte
7. Eric CantorROMNEY
9. Morgan Griffith
10. Frank Wolf

WASHINGTON (4 of 9)
3. Jaime Herrera BeutlerROMNEY
4. Doc Hastings
5. Cathy McMorris RodgersROMNEY
8. David ReichertROMNEY

WEST VIRGINIA (2 of 3)
1. David McKinley
2. Shelley Moore Capito

WISCONSIN (5 of 8)
1. Paul RyanROMNEY
5. James Sensenbrenner
6. Thomas Petri
7. Sean Duffy
8. Reid Ribble

WYOMING (1 of 1)
AL. Cythia LummisROMNEY





*endorsements after primary or caucus:
Candice MillerROMNEY


Note: After Romney became the presumptive nominee on April 10, endorsements fell in line rather quickly.  For example he gained the support of more governors... Gov. Bobby Jindal (LA) - April 10; Gov. Brian Sandoval (NV) - April 11; Gov. Tom Corbett (PA) and Gov. Matt Mead (WY) - April 17; Gov. Mitch Daniels (IN) - April 18; Gov. John Kasich (OH) - April 19; following Gingrich's signalling his intent to withdraw Gov. Rick Perry (TX) - April 25.