Former Colorado Lt. Gov. Jane Norton on Friday endorsed fellow Republican Deborah Flora in the GOP primary for the 4th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who announced last week that he isn’t running for reelection.

Calling Flora “a principled leader who won’t back down from a fight,” Norton said in a statement that the nonprofit leader and former talk radio host has what it takes to represent the district.

“Colorado’s 4th Congressional District deserves a representative who will work toward solutions to the issues hurting Colorado families,” Norton said. “Over the years, I have come to appreciate the courage of Deborah’s convictions and I know she will fight tirelessly to secure our border, get our broken economy back on track, and stand up for parental rights.”

She added: “Deborah is a proven problem solver and an excellent listener. She will make a great congresswoman for the 4th District.”

A former state lawmaker and federal official under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Norton was Republican Gov. Bill Owens’ running mate in 2002 and served one term as lieutenant governor. She ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010 but lost the primary to Buck, who went on to lose the general election to Democrat Michael Bennet but returned four years later to win the House seat Flora is seeking this cycle.

Norton served briefly in 2017 as the director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs for the Department of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration.

Flora founded the nonprofit Parents United America, and, until last week, hosted an afternoon conservative talk show on 710 KNUS. She lives with her husband and their two children in Parker.

Announcing her bid for Buck’s seat, Flora declared: “The career politicians in Washington, D.C. are completely out of touch with the real issues facing the good people of Colorado and this country. I am running for Congress to bring accountability back to government, stop the out-of-control spending that is crushing citizens and skyrocketing inflation, secure our border and return safety to our streets, restore America’s energy independence so we stop funding our enemies abroad, and fight for educational freedom and parental rights.”

Flora ran for the U.S. Senate seat held by Bennet last year but failed to make the primary. Norton endorsed her candidacy in that race, too.

The other GOP candidates running in the heavily Republican 4th CD are state Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, Weld County Council member Trent Leisy and first-time candidate Justin Schrieber. The field could grow considerably by the end of the year, with current and former state lawmakers, county commissioners and past statewide candidates weighing bids.

Democrats Isaac McCorkle, John Padora and Karen Breslin are also running in the district, which covers Douglas County, parts of Larimer and Weld counties and the Eastern Plains.