Former House Speaker Paul Ryan is actively seeking endorsements for Nikki Haley, a rising favorite within the Republican establishment.

During a flight from Canada to Washington, D.C., Ryan was seen texting Wisconsin Representative Mike Gallagher, urging him to back Haley.

Politico Playbook reports that Ryan’s text to Gallagher was straightforward: “I think now is the time for a guy like you to endorse.”

Ryan claimed Haley aligned with Gallagher’s views, saying, “Plus, Her foreign policy/world views track closest to yours. She brings the most excitement. I like Ron, but don’t think he is the growth stock Niki [sic] is. Just following up per our talk [in] September. Go Packers!” These texts, confirmed by Politico, reveal Ryan’s push for Haley.

However, Gallagher’s spokesperson stated that the Congressman isn’t ready to endorse anyone yet, noting, “As Congressman Gallagher has repeatedly said, he has no intention to endorse any candidate at this time.”

Ryan, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and a Fox News board member, has branded himself a “Never Again Trumper.”

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Trump, in turn, has openly criticized Ryan, particularly in a speech at CPAC where he said, “When we started this journey, a journey like there has never been before, there’s never been anything like this, we had a republican party that was ruled by freaks, Neocons, globalists, open borders, zealots and fools, but we are never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove and Jeb Bush.”

In the race for the GOP nomination, Trump currently has a massive lead, with DeSantis and Haley competing for a distant second place.

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