Jason Crow, an attorney and one of two Democrats running in a primary for the 6th Congressional District seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, picked up an endorsement from Colorado’s largest teachers union Thursday, his campaign announced.

The Colorado Education Association and its national parent, the National Education Association, threw their support behind Crow, CEA President Kerrie Dallman said, calling Crow “the fighter we need.”

“Jason is the product of public schools and, as a dad, he gets the role that strong neighborhood schools play in the lives of Colorado’s children,” Dallman said in a statement.

“He will be a tireless advocates for educators as we fight for better wages and increased funding in our local schools. Jason is the fighter we need going to bat every day for teachers, students and working families. We look forward to helping him flip the 6th.”

Dallmann, who has led the 35,000-member union since 2012, is term limited. She’ll be succeeded in July by CEA’s current vice president, Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor from Adams County.

Crow, a partner in the law firm Holland & Hart and an Army Ranger combat veteran, is running in a primary against clean energy expert and author Levi Tillemann in the suburban swing district, which covers Aurora and portions of Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas counties.

Crow said in a statement he wouldn’t be where is today without his public school education.

“We must support our educators, our local schools, and I will fight every day in Washington to make sure all our children get the education they deserve,” he said. “It is critical for our economy, our children’s futures, and a more equitable society. With the help of CEA, we will win this race in November.”

Coffman is running unopposed for the GOP nomination for a sixth term in Congress.

The primary is June 26.