Former Colorado Lt. Gov. Jane Norton on Monday endorsed fellow Republican Jeff Hurd, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in next year’s primary.

Calling the Grand Junction attorney a “principled, conservative leader,” Norton said that Hurd understands rural issues and stands to be an effective champion for the 3rd Congressional District.

Boebert is seeking a third term representing the district, which covers most of the Western Slope and Southern Colorado. After surviving the closest congressional race in the country last year, she’s facing challenges from two Republicans and two Democrats.

“Jeff Hurd will be a principled, conservative leader in the U.S. House,” Norton said in a statement released by Hurd’s campaign.

“His experience working with issues of importance to rural Colorado and the way in which he conducts himself, demonstrates clearly that he’ll represent Colorado’s 3rd District well and will be a strong and serious advocate for his home state. As someone who was born and raised in Western Colorado, I deeply care about the future of rural Colorado. I am pleased to support him.”

Norton served one term as lieutenant governor starting in 2003 under Republican Gov. Bill Owens, who endorsed Hurd in October.

A former state lawmaker and federal official in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administration’s, Norton ran the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and later served as director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs for the Department of Health and Human Services under former President Donald Trump.

Hurd said in a statement that he is “humbled” to get Norton’s support.

“She has been a leader on so many conservative fights and I’m grateful for her support,” he said. “As a native of Grand Junction and a fighter for western and southern Colorado, she understands that rural Colorado and our district are being left behind. I promise to deliver for the district and always conduct myself in a way that makes Colorado proud.”

Hurd, a first-time candidate, has won endorsements from multiple current and former Republican officials in addition to Owens in recent months, including four of the district’s county commissioners, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, former Mesa State University President Tim Foster, former Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and former University of Colorado President Bruce Benson.  

Trump endorsed Boebert ahead of the 2020 general election and again last cycle.

Democrat Adam Frisch, the former Aspen City Council member who came within fewer than 600 votes of unseating Boebert last year, is facing Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout in the Democratic primary. Republican Russ Andrews, a largely self-funding candidate from Carbondale, is also challenging Boebert in the GOP primary. A handful of third-party candidates are also running in the district.