Presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has attracted a slew of endorsements from Washington state Republican leaders as she vies for the party’s nomination in this year’s race.
Senate GOP Caucus Chair Judy Warnick, House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, Senate Republican Whip Keith Wagoner and House Caucus Chair Paul Harris are among those who have thrown their weight behind Haley as an alternative to former President Donald Trump.
Haley’s campaign leadership team in Washington will be led by Saul Gamoran, the former state campaign chair for Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s failed bid for the 2016 presidential nomination.
Gamoran, who runs a legal consulting firm, told The Seattle Times in 2016 that he “could not support Donald Trump” after Cruz’s presidential campaign dissolved.
“The world is on fire, and Nikki Haley is the leader we need to make America strong and proud,” Gamoran said in a Tuesday announcement from Haley’s campaign.
Haley’s five-person leadership team in Washington also includes King County Republican Party State Committeeman Paul Hess, former state GOP chair Diane Tebelius, lawyer Barry Kaplan and Manette Merrill, a 2016 Cruz delegate.
The former South Carolina governor gained ground in GOP primary polls during fall and early winter, but still lags far behind Trump.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Haley are both polling around 11% and Trump around 61% in the race for the Republican nomination, according to an average of national polls by the website FiveThirtyEight. DeSantis announced a Washington campaign team in October.
Washington’s presidential primary is March 12.
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