Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) gave his endorsement to former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) just hours after the former congressman announced he was running for president.

O’Malley, who ran for president in 2016 and was once thought of as a possible 2020 candidate himself, said he was “all in” for O’Rourke in a post on Twitter Thursday.

“We’re all in for Beto here in Maryland and I look forward to doing everything in my power to help him beat Donald Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE,” he wrote.

You bet! We’re all in for Beto here in Maryland and I look forward to doing everything in my power to help him beat Donald Trump. https://t.co/7oCoA0mAzg — Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) March 14, 2019

O’Malley congratulated O’Rourke and his wife, Amy, in another post on Twitter where he quoted the Texas Democrats' announcement video.

Congratulations to Beto and Amy O’Rourke on the big decision to run for President of the U.S.! Thanks for doing this. We need you. A fearless American future is calling us forward. https://t.co/avmqBnRqQ3 — Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) March 14, 2019

O’Malley withdrew his name from consideration for the Democratic primary earlier this year and quickly threw his support behind O’Rourke, who had yet to announce he was running.

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O’Rourke gained national attention and almost immediately garnered 2020 speculation after he ran a close race against incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes Press: Notorious RBG vs Notorious GOP The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (R).

He ultimately lost to Cruz in the 2018 midterm elections by roughly 3 percentage points.

In an op-ed published in the Des Moines Register in January, O’Malley pointed to O’Rourke’s “disciplined and principled campaign” as a reason behind his support.

“He spoke to the American values of honesty, compassion for one another, and courage in the face of a rapidly changing future,” he wrote.