Idaho 1^st District GOP Rep. Raul Labrador announced today that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is endorsing Labrador for governor of Idaho in 2018; you can read our full story here at spokesman.com. Cruz, who won Idaho’s 13-candidate 2016 GOP presidential primary with 45.4 percent of the vote to Donald Trump’s 28.1 percent, said in a statement, “I’ve worked closely with Raúl Labrador over the past few years to advance conservative policies for our country and I can tell you he is one of the most effective, dedicated, and honest men I have known. His fierce commitment to conservative values, his respect for our Constitution, and his pledge to making government accountable to the people will make him a great governor and I’m proud to endorse his candidacy.”

Labrador said in a statement, “It’s been a privilege to work alongside Senator Cruz in Congress to promote policies that support these ideals, and I’m humbled to have his support in this campaign.”

Labrador is in a hotly contested race for the GOP nomination for governor in 2018, with rivals including current Lt. Gov. Brad Little and Boise businessman and physician Tommy Ahlquist. Also in the race thus far are more than half a dozen lesser-known candidates, including five who have filed to form fundraising committees as Republicans; one, John Thomas Wiechec, as an independent; and one, Troy Minton, as a Democrat.

Labrador was a supporter of Rand Paul for president, serving as his western campaign chairman; but after Paul dropped out of the race, Labrador endorsed Cruz in February of 2016, and then actively campaigned around the country for Trump in the weeks prior to the general election.