DES MOINES – Senator Ted Cruz of Texas on Thursday won the endorsement of Bob Vander Plaats, an influential leader of Iowa’s Christian right, who called on conservatives to unite behind Mr. Cruz, now in a close contest with Donald J. Trump in the state.

Mr. Vander Plaats, the president and chief executive of the Family Leader, a group staunchly opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage, backed the winners of the past two Republican caucuses, Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Rick Santorum in 2012. In both cases, however, the caucus winners were too conservative and underfunded to capture the party’s nomination.

Read the article “Major Iowa Christian Leader Endorses Ted Cruz” on nytimes.com.