State Sens. Bob Gardner and Larry Liston on Tuesday endorsed congressional candidate Jeff Hurd, the Grand Junction Republican challenging U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in next year’s GOP primary.

The Colorado Springs Republicans say they’re supporting the first-time candidate because they believe Hurd will deliver results.

“Jeff is a leader of character who will work hard to deliver on issues important to western and southern Colorado. He will deliver for our farming and ranching families, fight to protect our water, push for energy independence, and always put Colorado first,” said Gardner and Liston in a joint statement released by Hurd’s campaign.

“Jeff is a man of integrity, whose behavior and conduct represents Colorado values, and he will work hard to always deserve our support,” the longtime legislators added.

Boebert is seeking a third term representing the sprawling 3rd Congressional District, which covers most of the Western Slope and Southern Colorado. After winning her current term last year by 546 votes, the closest margin of any U.S. House race in the country, she’s facing challenges from two Republicans and two Democrats.

Gardner and Liston, whose state Senate districts are within the El Paso County-based 5th Congressional District, are listed as co-hosts of a high-dollar fundraiser for Hurd Tuesday night in Denver. According to an invitation reviewed by Colorado Politics, the reception features former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, who have previously endorsed Hurd.

“I greatly appreciate the support from Senator Gardner and Senator Liston as they truly understand the value of hard working public service to improve the quality of life for constituents,” Hurd said in a statement. “These senators have confidence that I will deliver smart, thoughtful leadership for our district and defend our conservative values.”

A spokesman for Boebert’s campaign declined to comment on the endorsements by Gardner and Liston other than to note they don’t live in the district she represents.

An attorney, Hurd has won endorsements from multiple current and former Republican officials in recent months, including from four of the district’s county commissioners. In addition to Owens and Brown, others who have thrown their support behind Hurd are former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton, former Mesa State University President Tim Foster, former Colorado Springs Mayor and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, former Colorado State Treasurer Mark Hillman, former U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn and former University of Colorado President Bruce Benson.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Boebert in the 2020 general election and again last cycle ahead of the primary but has yet to weigh in this time.

After unseating a five-term Republican incumbent in the 2020 primary, Boebert easily fended off a primary challenge last year from then-state Sen. Don Coram, R-Montrose. Coram later endorsed Boebert’s Democratic opponent, former Aspen City Councilman Adam Frisch, who is seeking a rematch in 2024.

The Republican-leaning district is rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, which cited Boebert’s close call in the last election, Frisch’s record-setting fundraising advantage, and Boebert’s high-profile, combative approach to politics.

A poll of likely voters released in August by Frisch’s campaign showed Boebert and Frisch in a statistical dead heat, with Frisch holding a 2-point advantage over the incumbent, within the survey’s margin of error.

Frisch is facing Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout in the Democratic primary for the seat. Republican Russ Andrews, a largely self-funding candidate from Carbondale, is running alongside Boebert and Hurd in the GOP primary. A handful of third-party candidates are also running in the district, including Libertarian James Wiley.