U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton is throwing his support behind Steve House, one of the Republicans running in a primary in Colorado’s 6th Congressional District.

House, a former chairman of the Colorado GOP, is seeking the 2020 nomination to challenge Democrat Jason Crow in the suburban, Aurora-based swing seat.

Tipton, a five-term congressman from the Western Slope, said in a statement that House “will be an excellent partner as we address the needs of rural Colorado and improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of our state’s hard-working families.”

Added Tipton: “Steve’s three decades of successful experience innovating consumer driven healthcare will be invaluable as Republicans in Congress protect American families from the threat of a socialist single payer mandate.”

Tipton, the co-chair of the Congressional Small Business Caucus and vice chair of the Congressional Western Caucus, is facing a primary challenge of his own from conservative gun-rights activist Lauren Boebert, owner of Shooters Grill in Rifle.

Republican congressional candidate Steve House announces endorsements by veterans, state lawmakers

Tipton’s endorsement is the latest for House, who briefly ran for governor in 2014. Other House backers include U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, CU Regent Heidi Ganahl, former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams and former Colorado Lt. Gov. Jane Norton.

“I appreciate Scott’s many years of friendship and service to Coloradans,” House said in a statement provided by his campaign. “I look forward to partnering with him in Congress to increase entrepreneurship across our state, improve the smart management of our public lands and lower the spiraling cost of healthcare and education to Colorado families.”

House is facing a primary with Casper Stockham, the two-time Republican nominee in the Denver-based 1st Congressional District.

In October, the National Republican Congressional Committee gave House its “On the Radar” designation for candidates in competitive districts who have met fundraising, organizing and political support goals.

National GOP congressional group names Steve House to 'On the Radar' program

So far, House is winning the primary’s money race. Through the quarter ending Sept. 30, House reported raising $202,140 and had $190,718 on hand, swamping Stockham’s $8,613 in contributions and $275 on hand. Reports covering the final quarter of 2019 are due Jan. 31.

Colorado Politics reported Monday that Crow raised $440,000 in the year’s final quarter and had $1.4 million on hand.