Sen. Ted Cruz 'enthusiastically' endorses Donald Trump for president: 'This race is over'

 Texas Senator Ted Cruz endorsed Donald Trump for president Tuesday night and called on the country to unite behind the Republican nominee.

"I'm proud to endorse Donald Trump for president of the United States," Cruz said on "Hannity." “I look forward to enthusiastically supporting them.”

Cruz, who battled Trump fiercely in the 2016 election primaries, argued that the results of the Iowa caucuses showed there was only one viable Republican candidate.

"[Iowa] was an impressive victory for Donald Trump: I have to say, there's no place like the Iowa caucuses. I know this very well. The men and women of Iowa, they take their responsibility incredibly seriously. .They vet the candidates,'' Cruz said.

"It's a wonderful process, and I'm a big believer in letting democracy play out. Well, last night it went on, and I have to say that Trump's victory was on board... Congratulations to President Trump on that impressive victory ,” Cruz said. “And at this point, I believe this race is over.”

Trump earned 51% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses on Monday, and claimed a 30-point victory over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who placed second over former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.

The Texas senator said Trump's landslide victory in the Iowa caucuses shows the former president's candidacy is "compelling."

"I'm a big believer that we should let this process play out: it happened. And last night the result: 51% [of the vote, which included] 98 counties — it's compelling. And at this point, I think the contradiction The substance and the policy and it should be on the record [vs. Biden],” Cruz said.

Cruz added, "If you're a left-wing Democrat, there's no one in the country after Donald Trump that you want to defeat more than me. And Chuck Schumer has made it clear that I'm his number one target in the country." "Democrats are going to spend $100 million this year trying to defeat me and turn Texas blue. Now, that's not going to happen."

Trump also received an endorsement Sunday from another former 2016 primary competitor, Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla.