Republican gubernatorial candidate Walker Stapleton landed the first endorsement by a major business organization in the crowded GOP primary Tuesday when the Associated Builders and Contractors Rocky Mountain Chapter declared it’s backing Stapleton, saying the twice-elected state treasurer “gets business.”

“The chapter is proud to recognize Walker Stapleton for his support of merit shop contractors and the principles of open competition, free enterprise, lower taxes and responsible government regulation. Stapleton gets business, he comes from the private sector but also has a proven pro-business track record as state treasurer,” said Doug Carlson, the ABC chapter’s president and CEO in a statement.

“Stapleton’s common-sense approach to reforms will allow him to champion polices that create jobs instead of pursuing an agenda of burdensome regulations that hinder job creation,” said Rob Marceau of RK Mechanical Inc. and 2018 chairman of the ABC chapter’s board. “This is a critical election and ABC Rocky Mountain Chapter is ready to get to work and help elect Walker Stapleton Colorado’s next governor.”

The trade association announced it was endorsing Stapleton at RK Mechanical’s northeast Denver headquarters on the edge of the Stapleton neighborhood.

Stapleton is one of 10 Republicans running to replace term-limited Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat. Seven Democrats are also running for the office.

Calling the ABC chapter “an invaluable voice for free enterprise in Colorado,” Stapleton said he’s honored to win the group’s endorsement.

“As governor, I will continue to fight for policies that protect both employees and employers and will also ignite the engines of economic growth here in Colorado,” Stapleton said in a statement. “We are building the coalition and putting together the resources necessary to defeat Jared Polis in November and I’m proud to have the Associated Builders and Contractors on our side as we continue to fight for the future of Colorado.”

Polis, a wealthy five-term congressman from Boulder who has poured more than $1.4 million into his campaign, is one of the leading Democrats running for governor.

ABC represents 180 firms employing more than 40,000 workers in the construction and related fields in Colorado. The group advocates for what it calls “free and open construction markets” where companies win work based on merit, not on whether or not labor unions represent any of their workers.

While candidates in the Democratic primary – including Polis, former State Treasurer Cary Kennedy and former state Sen. Mike Johnston – have been racking up endorsements from unions, politicians and advocacy groups, observers say it’s highly unusual for a large-scale business organization like ABC to make a pick this early in the election season.

Other Republicans in the race include Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, entrepreneur and former state Rep. Victor Mitchell, former investment banker Doug Robinson, Larimer County Commissioner Lew Gaiter III, former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez, former Denver County Trump campaign co-chair Steve Barlock and political newcomers Jim Rundberg and Teri Kear.

Stapleton, Mitchell, Robinson and Coffman are petitioning their way onto the June 26 primary ballot. The others are pursuing a spot through the assembly process, which kicks off March 6 at precinct caucuses. Candidates who win 30 percent support from delegates to the April 14 state convention qualify for the ballot.