Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has become the latest, prominent Republican official to endorse Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his bid for the GOP’s 2024 presidential nomination, describing him as a “strong conservative and principled leader” who is best placed to lead the party over the next decade.

This key endorsement marks a significant step for DeSantis in his bid to succeed former President Donald Trump as the party’s leading contender.

Stitt said in a statement:

Governor DeSantis is a strong conservative and principled leader, and I am proud to endorse him for president.

In this election cycle, Oklahomans will remember that DeSantis was one of the few who never backed down in the face of adversity, because DeSantis operated with dogged conviction and shared our values for a limited government and free country.

Stitt also hailed DeSantis for having “boldly delivered results for the people of Florida that laid the groundwork for a booming economy, an education system focused on student outcomes, and better infrastructure for working families.”

He continued:

To deliver these same results all across America and unwind the disastrous liberal mandates of the Biden administration is going to demand a candidate who can win and keep winning as a two-term president. I am confident that leader is Ron DeSantis.

DeSantis’ campaign will likely gain further momentum following Stitt’s endorsement. Earlier this week, 20 Oklahoma state lawmakers, together with former NASA administrator and Congressman Jim Bridenstine, also declared their support for his campaign.

Stitt’s endorsement carries substantial weight, considering his profile as a hardline conservative. He led Oklahoma to become the first state to prohibit abortion following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade, and has also promoted constitutional carry of firearms. In 2022, he also passed a law preventing biological males from participating in women’s sports; Stitt also banned all sex reassignment procedures for minors in the state, including the use of puberty blockers.

The announcement comes as DeSantis seeks to close the gap on the frontrunner and former president, who was this week indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents after leaving office.

Similar to 2016, the race for the Republican nomination is now fast becoming a crowded field, with other candidates including former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Senator Tim Scott and the entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Although still well behind Trump in terms of endorsements, DeSantis has also received the backing of Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), both of whom are also considered strong conservative voices in Congress.

In his endorsement, Massie said:

In his congressional office and as Governor, Ron has always surrounded himself with capable people who share his principles

Ron knows that putting America first means putting Americans first, not corporations, and he’s never backed down from a fight with the guys in pharma, agriculture and tech. If we make the right choices, America’s best days are in front of us. Let’s pick a proven energetic leader who can get us there.