Donald Trump nabs his first congressional endorsements
New York Republican Rep. Chris Collins became the first sitting member of Congress on Wednesday to endorse Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential race.
In a statement to The Buffalo News, Collins said that Trump has demonstrated that he has the "guts and fortitude " to bring U.S. jobs back from overseas and take on enemies like ISIS, Iran, Russia and North Korea.
"That is why I am proud to endorse him as the next president of the United States," Collins said.
Later on Wednesday, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-California, told Politico that he would also support Trump.
"I've liked Trump since the beginning," Hunter said. "I think you have more Trump supporters in Congress. They just have to come out of the closet, so to speak."
"We don't need a policy wonk as president. We need a leader as president," Hunter added. "I don't think Trump wants my endorsement...And that's one reason why I like him."
Collins has served in Congress since 2013 and represents parts of Buffalo, New York. Hunter, meanwhile, has served in Congress in 2008 and represents parts of San Diego. Hunter is a former marine and sponsored legislation last year known as "The Donald Trump Act" that would have forced local law enforcement agencies to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they had an illegal immigrant in custody.
The endorsements come a day after Trump won Nevada's GOP caucuses. He has also won New Hampshire's GOP primary and the South Carolina GOP primary last Saturday.
