Colorado congressional candidate Gabe Evans could see an infusion of campaign cash in coming months after House Speaker Mike Johnson added the Fort Lupton Republican to a list of participants in a joint fundraising committee aimed at boosting the GOP’s majority in the chamber.

Evans, one of four Republicans running in a primary for the seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, stands to benefit from the Grow the Majority political action committee, a GOP super PAC a spokesman said distributed $2 million last month to candidates and committees.

Johnson formally endorsed Evans this week, describing the first-term state lawmaker as “uniquely qualified to go toe-to-toe with and defeat” Caraveo, who is seeking a second term in the battleground 8th Congressional District.

Greg Steele, Johnson’s political communications director, told Colorado Politics on Thursday that Evans will be among more than 70 recipients receiving financial support from the joint fundraising operation, which can accept up to $850,000 from GOP donors.

Established in November, weeks after the Louisiana Republican was elected speaker, the PAC has been raising money for vulnerable incumbents, challengers in targeted districts, designated state parties and national organizations, including the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Republican National Committee, the Congressional Leadership Fund and Johnson’s leadership PAC.

Steele said Johnson also plans to contribute to Evans’ campaign from the speaker’s leadership PAC.

Caraveo, a Thornton pediatrician and former state lawmaker, won election in 2022 by just over 1,600 votes in the closely divided district, which covers parts of Adams, Weld and Larimer counties north of the Denver metro area. Rated a toss-up by national election forecasters, the seat has been called crucial to determining which party controls the House after this year’s election.

The other Republicans hoping to challenge Caraveo are Weld County Commissioner Scott James, former state Rep. Janak Joshi, R-Colorado Springs, and first-time candidate Joe Andujo, who is self-funding his campaign.

Joshi chided both Evans and Johnson for the arrangement in a statement to Colorado Politics.

“While the other candidates in this race will be doing the bidding of failed insiders, I’ll be fighting for the citizens just like I’ve always done,” Joshi said in a text message that included a screenshot of a headline describing Johnson’s “stumbles” trying to manage the GOP-led House.

Johnson has come under criticism this week after Republicans failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and fell short on a vote to approve an aid package to Israel.

A spokeswoman for James declined to comment on Johnson’s moves. Andujo did not respond to a request for comment.

While Evans led the primary field in fundraising in the most recent reporting period, the Republican started the year far behind the Democratic incumbent, who reported $1.36 million in the bank, compared to Evans’ $186,000.

Noting that the NRCC stays neutral in GOP primaries that don’t involve incumbents, spokeswoman Delanie Bomar took aim at Caraveo.

“During her first year in Congress, Yadira Caraveo has staked out extreme positions against American energy and against securing the border,” Bomar said in an emailed statement to Colorado Politics. “She’s actively working against Coloradans and voters will remember that at the polls in November.”

Her counterpart at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee suggested that Johnson’s endorsement might be a drag on Evans.

“Gabe Evans continues to prove he’s too extreme for Colorado, so of course he’s backed by the most extreme speaker in modern history who has co-sponsored a national abortion ban with no exceptions and voted to defund law enforcement,” Mallory Payne, a DCCC spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. “There’s zero doubt Evans, who also supports banning abortion, will fall in line with Mike Johnson’s dangerous agenda every single time.”

Colorado’s precinct caucuses are in early March. The state’s primary election is June 25.