TALLAHASSEE — With President Donald Trump’s recent endorsement in his back pocket, Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis on Friday will announce he’s entering the governor’s race, a move poised to inject national cash into a campaign already on the 2018 national radar.

“I’m excited about taking this first step towards a campaign for governor,” DeSantis told POLITICO. “As a former prosecutor, Iraq veteran and conservative leader who’s endorsed by President Trump, I’ve got the experience needed to win this race and build on Gov. [Rick] Scott’s strong legacy.”

DeSantis on Friday morning will file paperwork with state election officials creating both his official campaign and a political committee called Friends of Ron DeSantis. The committee can accept unlimited contributions.

In recent weeks, the three-term congressman began laying the groundwork for the long-anticipated announcement. The crown jewel in his GOP primary preparation was the Trump endorsement, which the president blasted out to his more than 46 million Twitter followers Dec. 22. It gave DeSantis an immediate injection of political momentum.