Former U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner on Wednesday endorsed Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg in the Republican primary in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, calling the veteran state lawmaker “the conservative conscience” of the district Gardner used to represent.

Sonnenberg is one of 11 Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, seeking the nomination to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ken Buck in the solidly GOP seat, which is anchored by Douglas and portions of Larimer counties and covers Colorado’s Eastern Plains. Boebert announced late last year that she was jumping from the more competitive 3rd Congressional District to run for a third term from the more favorable 4th CD.

“Jerry is committed to his faith and family and will be a committed conservative in Congress,” Gardner said in a statement released by Sonnenberg’s campaign. “As a leader, he understands the importance of a thriving urban corridor on the Front Range and how it bolsters the rural Eastern Plains. He will be a passionate and dedicated warrior for our nation and our shared conservative values.”

Before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2014, Gardner represented the 4th CD for two terms. He lost his bid for a second Senate term in 2020 to former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Sonnenberg’s campaign at the same time unveiled endorsements from two of Gardner’s predecessors in Congress, former U.S. Sens. Wayne Allard and Hank Brown, who both also first represented the 4th CD.

Said Allard: “I support Jerry Sonnenberg as we need him because of his agriculture background.”

“Senator Sonnenberg has proven himself to be an advocate for his constituents with the character that CD4 expects,” Brown said. “He is well suited to represent the families and small businesses along the west part of the district as well as those that produce the food, fiber and energy in the rural areas.”

Sonnenberg, who operates a farm and ranch in Sterling, was inducted last year into Colorado’s Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Saying said he was “humbled” to receive the endorsements, Sonnenberg added: “Each of them knows the 4th district and understands the kind of principled leadership our community needs in Congress. I am working hard to earn the support of Coloradans across our district and promise to deliver that conservative leadership in Congress.”

In addition to Boebert, other Republicans running for the seat include state Reps. Mike Lynch of Wellington and Richard Holtorf of Akron, former state Sen. Ted Harvey of Highlands Ranch, filmmaker and former radio talker Deborah Flora, business consultant and former 2nd Congressional District GOP nominee Peter Yu, Weld County Council member Trent Leisy, former top congressional aide Chris Phelen, Hispanic Energy Alliance chairman Floyd Trujillo and activist Justin Schreiber.

The congressional primary is June 25