Former President Donald Trump endorsed Colorado Republican Chairman Dave Williams’ congressional bid on Tuesday. He credited the former state lawmaker with helping Trump win the state’s presidential primary while taking a swipe at one of Williams’ leading primary opponents.

“Dave helped us deliver a 30-point Blowout Victory on Super Tuesday, and he will help us WIN Colorado this November,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “In Congress, Dave will work hard to Secure the Border, Fight for Election Integrity, Support our Military/Vets, and Protect and Defend our under siege Second Amendment. Dave Williams has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Trump defeated former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in Colorado’s March 5 primary on the heels of winning a formal endorsement in January from the state’s Republican Party.

In the same post, Trump got in a dig at primary candidate Jeff Crank without naming the Republican, who had earlier in the day won an endorsement from House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“His opponent is Endorsed, and works closely with, Americans for Chinese Prosperity, a Charles Koch Disaster,” Trump posted, referring to Americans for Prosperity Action, the political arm of the Koch network’s Americans for Prosperity, which endorsed Crank in February.

Williams and Crank are among six Republicans running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn in the GOP-leaning 5th Congressional District, which roughly covers El Paso County.

Trump’s post backing Williams came hours after Crank’s campaign announced Johnson’s endorsement.

Calling Crank “a strong conservative who we need in Congress,” the Louisiana Republican said in a statement: “He’ll work with our Republican majority to fight for Colorado families, secure the border, cut wasteful spending, and fight for conservative values. I’m proud to endorse and support Jeff Crank for Colorado’s 5th District!”

Williams thanked Trump for the endorsement in a text message to Colorado Politics.

“We thank the Lord God Almighty for having the opportunity to earn President Trump’s support as voters know Congress needs America First champions who will work alongside Trump to get this country back on track by securing our border, lowering taxes and spending, supporting our military, promoting a pro-life culture, and reducing government in our lives with more individual freedom for all,” Williams said.

Crank said in a release that he was honored to receive Johnson’s backing. He added, “His commitment to conservative governance and fighting back against the disastrous Biden agenda is a blueprint for conservatives across the country. Speaker Johnson knows that I will fight to lock down our border and cut reckless government spending. I’m proud to join him in the fight to save our country.”

Reacting to Trump’s endorsement of Williams, however, Crank took aim at his primary rival in a statement to Colorado Politics.

“Dave Williams lies constantly because he knows he is running a losing campaign,” Crank said. “He is a Defund the Police politician, just like the worst liberals. He lies about my support for President Trump because he is part of the group that walked out on the President at the Convention in 2016 and was fired from his volunteer role with President Trump in 2020. He lies because he knows if voters know the truth about him, he will not win.”

A Crank spokesman told Colorado Politics that Williams – who wasn’t a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention – nonetheless “associates” with Colorado Republicans who opposed Trump’s nomination eight years ago after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won the support of all the state GOP’s pledged convention delegates.

Williams drew fire from fellow Republicans earlier this month after the state Republican Party sent a mailer to voters in Colorado Springs attacking Crank, Haley and AFP Action, citing the Colorado GOP’s support for Trump.

While AFP Action was among Haley’s biggest financial supporters before she ended her presidential campaign last week, Crank formally endorsed Trump late last year and has maintained that Williams’ attacks are unfounded.

Other Republicans running in the 5th District’s June 25 primary include state Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, and former state Rep. Douglas Bruce, the author of Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Six Democrats and a handful of third-party and unaffiliated candidates are also running for the seat, which has only elected Republicans to Congress since the district was created more than 50 years ago.