Rep. Chris Collins of Clarence endorses Donald Trump

Fresh off his big victory in the Nevada caucuses Tuesday, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump scored his first endorsements from GOP members of Congress on Wednesday, signs that some in the party may be coming to grips with the real-estate mogul as their nominee.

Hunter added that he didn’t think Trump wanted or cared about his endorsement, which also contributed to Hunter’s admiration for him. Collins has been involved politics since 1997, when he lost to Rep. John LaFalce (D-New York).

In a statement to The Buffalo News, Collins said that Trump has demonstrated that he has the “guts and fortitude ” to bring U.S.jobs back from overseas and take on enemies like ISIS, Iran, Russia and North Korea.

Hunter also praised Trump’s strength in a telephone interview with Politico, arguing that America needs a leader and not a policy wonk as president. Collins, in his announcement, said Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, “has the unique qualifications to make America great again”.

But if Collins and Hunter’s endorsements are an indication of more mainstream support to come Trump’s way, further undermining Rubio’s courting of the GOP establishment, Trump could quickly run away with the nomination.

The same day, Trump reportedly said “endorsements mean very little”.

“He’s catching fire in this country much like I did in Erie County nine years ago with people who are just fed up with the status quo, and they’re fed up with politicians who promise everything and deliver nothing”, Collins said.

Trump remains at the bottom of the pack when it comes to congressional endorsements.

Collins, reported the first sitting member of Congress to endorse Trump, cited similar reasons as Hunter, according to The Buffalo News.