DENVER – U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter threw his support Monday behind fellow Democrat Jason Crow in the 6th Congressional District primary, saying the Aurora attorney and Army Ranger combat veteran has “already solved problems for the district” with his support for the new Veteran’s Administration hospital scheduled to open this summer.

Crow is one of four Democrats running for the seat held by five-term Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman.

Noting that he’s worked with Crow for years, Perlmutter said in his formal endorsement that he’s relied on his help on issues concerning veterans, particularly those – like Crow – returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Perlmutter is serving his sixth term reprinting the 7th Congressional District, which includes parts of Jefferson and Adams counties. Before it was redrawn for the 2012 election, the district included the site of the VA hospital in Aurora, which ran into construction delays and cost over-runs that pushed its opening back five years as its price ballooned by more than $1 billion.

“I have known Jason for several years as an active member of the community and as a member of my Veterans Advisory Committee,” Perlmutter said in a statement. “He has been very helpful on veterans issues, especially as it relates to issues concerning veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. And Jason has already solved problems for the district by supporting the construction of the new VA hospital in Aurora. I know Jason to be honest and hardworking with a passion for helping people. That’s why I need Jason fighting with me in Congress and why I am proud to endorse his campaign.”

Calling Perlmutter “one of Colorado’s true leaders” and “one of the hardest working members in Congress,” Crow said he was proud to have his endorsement. “I worked with Ed to help bring the new VA hospital to Aurora, and I look forward to working with him in Congress,” Crow said in a statement.

The other Democrats running in the battleground district are clean energy expert Levi Tillemann, activist Erik Stanger and pharmaceutical sales rep Jennifer Diffendal, who launched her campaign a few weeks ago. Attorney David Aarestad withdrew from the race last week and endorsed Crow. Coffman, for his part, faces a primary challenge from Highland Ranch activist Roger Edwards.