Jeb Hensarling endorses Cruz

Rep. Jeb Hensarling has endorsed Republican presidential candidate and fellow Texan Ted Cruz in an effort to derail controversial businessman Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner.

“I believe that now is the time for Republicans and conservatives to unite behind the candidate who can not only win in November, but who will govern according to the principles we advocate and share,” Hensarling said in a statement Thursday.

{mosads}“We are down to two candidates who can secure the Republican nomination — Donald Trump and Ted Cruz,” Hensarling said, dismissing the chances of Ohio Gov. John Kasich. “Based on Donald Trump’s track record, I have serious questions about his commitment to the conservative cause.”

Hensarling, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, was in the spotlight last year for leading the push to block reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which Cruz, the junior senator from Texas, also opposed.

He is the ninth Texas lawmaker to throw their support behind Cruz, who is pushing to coalesce support from those on the right in an effort to derail Trump.