Former president Donald Trump announced that he was running for president again in 2024, and Republican lawmakers danced around the question when asked if they would support him.

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"I think you are going to see a lot of other people announcing their candidacy as well, we've got a deep bench," said Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind. "That's a really good thing,"

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, a Republican who is a Trump ally, said, "We're focused on this election and the Georgia election."

That's a reference to the runoff in Georgia next month that pits incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, against football legend Herschel Walker, a Republican endorsed by Trump.

Trump, who lost the 2020 presidential election, had tried to overthrow voters' results and has been the subject of sweeping Congressional hearings about inspiring violence in the Capitol to stay in power. He announced his 2024 campaign at his Mar-a-Lago club and home in Palm Beach, Fla. Tuesday night.

Among attendees was Jim Lyons, chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party and a longtime Trump supporter, who tweeted his thanks to Trump with a photo of a row of American flags.

Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, who are all Democrats, reacted to the announcement in series of public statements.

"The first time Trump ran, he claimed to be an outsider. Now the emperor has no clothes," said Rep. Jim McGovern, of the state's second congressional district, which covers central Massachusetts. "He screwed America to enrich himself, lost the House, lost the Senate, lost the popular vote x2, got impeached x2, and led an insurrection. He has more baggage than a 747. Bring it."

Some declined to name the former president.

Trump's record of nationwide endorsements in the recently concluded midterms have been mixed. Republicans lost in competitive Senate races in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Arizona and Nevada. Democrats could further expand their majority with a runoff election three weeks from now in Georgia.

Republicans could take control of the House, but by a far smaller majority than they were hoping for, likely hampering their ability to pass legislation next year. Trump's record in endorsing candidates was mixed there, as well.

Several recent polls suggest that conservative voters support Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis over Trump in 2024. DeSantis and his fellow Republicans swept Florida in last week's elections, making significant gains even in Democratic strongholds.

Still, not all Republicans left the former president out to dry.

Kari Lake, a Trump loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for governor of Arizona, said over Twitter that the former president has her "complete and total endorsement."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also took to Twitter after Trump's announcement, saying that Trump will be hard to beat in the general election if he maintains his message and tone.

"His speech tonight, contrasting his policies and results against the Biden Administration, charts a winning path for him in the primaries and general election," Graham tweeted.

Graham had told reporters earlier Tuesday that he wanted Trump to hold off making any campaign announcements. "I don't think Trump should announce today," he said, "I just think we got Georgia (Senate race) outstanding. I would like to finish 2022, right?"

[Copyright 2022 NPR]