Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., is expected to endorse Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., during his 2024 presidential campaign announcement Monday, a Scott official confirmed to Fox News.

Thune will deliver remarks at Scott’s presidential announcement event on Monday in North Charleston, according to the official.

Scott filed the paperwork to run for president last week and has already started releasing campaign ads.

Thune is the second-highest-ranking Republican in the Senate behind Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. He will be the highest-ranking Republican on Capitol Hill to back the South Carolina senator. 

Fellow GOP South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds will also be endorsing Scott’s presidential run.

Scott’s entry into the race further crowds a Republican primary field that currently includes former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, businessman Perry Johnson, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former radio host Larry Elder and businessman Ryan Binkley.