(AP) Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he will support Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s presidential candidate in the November election.
The Republican governor spoke with local media Thursday. He told TV station WTHI in Terre Haute: “I look forward to supporting our presumptive nominee. I think Donald Trump will do very well in the Hoosier State.”
Pence endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz last week, days before Trump won the state’s primary election. Pence also praised Trump at the time and said, “I’m not against anybody.”
But a member of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration says the Republican governor will not endorse Donald Trump as the GOP standard-bearer in the November election.
Rauner declined to back a candidate during the once-crowded GOP nomination process, although he did express dismay with Trump’s rhetoric.
Rauner’s aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the aide wasn’t authorized to speak to the media, also says the governor won’t attend the July Republican Convention in Cleveland. Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, a Republican whose re-election effort is being challenged by Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth, says he is also skipping the convention.
Trump picked up 54 delegates by winning Illinois’ March 15 primary. His nomination is almost assured after Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropped out of the race this week.