Former Interior Secretary Gale Norton on Tuesday endorsed Jeff Hurd in the Republican primary for the Colorado congressional seat represented by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who moved across the state last month to run in another district.

Norton, a former two-term Colorado attorney general, called Hurd an effective advocate for Western and Southern Colorado who can keep the seat in Republican hands and help the GOP maintain control of the House of Representatives.

“Having had the honor to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Interior and as Colorado’s Attorney General, I know what it takes to fight for our Colorado way of life,” Norton said in a statement. “Washington desperately needs people with common sense, commitment to limited government and free enterprise, and a strong understanding of our American constitutional principles.”

Added Norton: “Jeff understands the dire need to close the border and protect our communities, to unleash Colorado energy production, to fight back against Biden and the democrats as they ruin our economy, and to defend our ranchers and farmers from government overreach. Jeff is a leader of character who will be a hardworking and effective advocate for Western and Southern Colorado.”

Hurd, a Grand Junction attorney and first-time candidate, is one of nine Republicans running for the 3rd Congressional District seat Boebert has represented since 2021.

Late last year, citing the risks of winning reelection in her home district, Boebert said she would seek a third term in the solidly Republican 4th Congressional District, where she faces an even more crowded primary for the seat represented by retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck.

Democrat Adam Frisch is again running in the 3rd CD after coming within 546 votes of unseating Boebert in 2022, in the closest congressional race in the country.

The other Republicans running in Boebert’s old district include former state Rep. Ron Hanks, State Board of Education member Stephen Varela and self-funder Russ Andrews, a first-time candidate from Carbondale.

As interior secretary under former President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2006, Norton advocated for expanding oil and gas development in the West. She runs Norton Regulatory Strategies, an Aurora-based firm that advises businesses on navigating state and federal regulations.

“It’s great to have Gale Norton join our team as she has been such a strong voice for Colorado and she sees that same passion in our campaign,” Hurd said in a statement. “Gale also knows the importance of keeping this district in Republican hands so we can advance our conservative principles in Congress and secure our border.”