Nebraska senior Senator Mike Johanns  says he will back former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel as the next Secretary of Defense. Johanns told the Lincoln Journal-Star and the Omaha World-Herald over the weekend that Hagel earned his endorsement after last week’s confirmation hearing and after meeting with him.

Some Republican senators have said they will vote against confirming Hagel because he’s not tough enough on Iran or sufficiently supportive of Israel, but Johanns says he believes Hagel will be a strong supporter of Israel and other allies of the U.S. and will be firm with America’s enemies.

Johanns and Hagel are long-time political colleagues. Hagel was already a senator when he campaigned with Hagel on his successful run for governor in 1998, and Johanns took Hagel’s when he didn’t seek reelection in 2008.

Johanns joins Thad Cochran of Mississippi as the only Republicans to publicly endorse Hagel’s nomination to run the Pentagon.  Democrats hold the majority in the Senate, and none has voiced opposition to Hagel’s appointment.