Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn on Monday formally endorsed Republican Jeff Crank as his successor.

Calling the political operative and former talk radio host “a man of integrity, conviction and solid family values,” Lamborn said he’s throwing his “total endorsement and full support” behind Crank, one of two Republicans running for the El Paso County-based congressional seat Lamborn has held for nine terms.

Lamborn, who announced in January that he wouldn’t seek reelection in the heavily Republican 5th Congressional District, said he decided to make the endorsement after watching the GOP primary unfold between Crank and Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams.

Both candidates have lost hard-fought primaries to Lamborn over the years: Crank in 2006 and 2008, when Lamborn won his first and second terms in Congress, and Williams in 2022, when Lamborn won his current term.

“I’ve been watching the campaign to succeed me in Congress,” Lamborn said in a statement. “It’s clear that our community would be better served with Jeff in Congress. I know that Jeff will represent our conservative values in Washington. He’ll pick up my fight to secure our southern border, continue the push to fix Biden’s broken economy, and stand proudly with our veteran and military community. With critical issues facing us in Washington, D.C., like the future of Space Command, it is vital that we elect a U.S. representative with credibility.”

Lamborn’s endorsement of Crank isn’t a surprise. Less than a month after Lamborn announced his retirement, an editorial in The Gazette of Colorado Springs — owned by Clarity Media, the parent company of Colorado Politics — urged the newspaper’s readers to elect Crank, citing a recent conversation with Lamborn, in which the incumbent “expressed enthusiastic support for Crank.”

In a statement, Crank, an executive with conservative advocacy organization Americans for Prosperity, said he is honored to receive Lamborn’s backing.

“He has served our community for decades and earned our trust and support,” Crank said. “Congressman Lamborn knows that I’ll hit the ground running day one, to continue his fight to secure our border, fix the broken Biden economy and serve those who serve us in uniform. I’m humbled by his gracious support.”

Williams’ campaign labeled Lamborn and Crank members of “the corrupt insider class” in a statement to Colorado Politics denouncing the endorsement.

“It’s no surprise that crooked Doug Lamborn would be supporting crooked Jeff Crank after he’d been working for months to give Crank a head start over all other candidates,” a senior advisor to the Williams campaign said in a text message. “Dave Williams is proud to have the full endorsement of Donald Trump, Rep. Matt Gaetz, and members of the Freedom Caucus like Rep. Bob Good, because Dave Williams will be fighting against the corrupt insider class who are Jeff Crank’s puppet masters.”

In addition to Trump’s support, Williams recently won endorsements from Republican U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Paul Gosar of Arizona and Mary Miller of Illinois.

Williams has also been endorsed by the Colorado Republican Party under controversial new rules that allow the GOP to back candidates who qualify for the primary election through the caucus and assembly process — like Williams — as opposed to petitioning onto the ballot, like Crank accomplished this spring.

Crank can count a roster of national Republicans in his corner, too, including House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers of Alabama, Jim Banks of Indiana and Ronny Jackson of Texas. Among the Colorado Republicans who have endorsed Crank are former Gov. Bill Owens, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, former Secretary of State Wayne Williams and former U.S. Reps. Joel Hefley and Bob Beauprez.

Crank has also been endorsed by Americans for Prosperity Action, the political arm of the national network backed by billionaire Charles Koch.

Democrats River Gassen, a scientist and astronomy teacher, and Joe Reagan, an Army veteran and veterans’ advocate, are running in the Democratic primary for the seat.

Primary ballots go in the mail to voters on June 3 and are due back to the county clerk by June 25.