Trump picks up seventh lawmaker endorsement

by Jesse Byrnes - 03/17/16 3:30 PM ET

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s outsider campaign has picked up its seventh congressional endorsement.

In endorsing Trump, Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) this week became the second New York Republican to throw his support behind the controversial businessman.

{mosads}Reed decided to support Trump after the billionaire’s string of victories in four more state primaries on Tuesday, adding to his delegate lead over rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich and forcing Marco Rubio out of the race.

“Now is the time to unite behind the candidate who I believe will be our nominee, Donald Trump,” Reed said in a statement Wednesday, according to Syracuse.com.

“We must move beyond the bombastic rhetoric to positive discussion about creating jobs and improving the lives of all Americans. We all care about improving people’s lives — that should always be our focus,” Reed added.

Reed initially backed Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign. Bush dropped out in late February after poor showings in early-voting states.

Fellow New York Rep. Chris Collins last month became the first congressional Republican to back Trump. Four other representatives and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) have since backed Trump, along with three governors.

Trump’s endorsements pale in comparison to those for Cruz, who boasts nearly 30 congressional endorsements. Kasich has nine lawmakers backing his campaign. Several who had supported Bush and Rubio have since backed Cruz.

Tags 2016 endorsements 2016 GOP primary 2016 presidential election Donald Trump Jeff Sessions Marco Rubio Ted Cruz