Republican State Sen. Tim Huelskamp picked up the endorsement of former Arkansas governor and 2008 GOP presidential contender Mike Huckabee in his bid for Rep. Jerry’s Moran’s (R-Kan.) seat.
Moran is running for Sam Brownback’s (R) Senate seat. Brownback has said he will not seek re-election.
“Having served as Governor of Arkansas for ten and a half years, I know the qualities that a politician should posses, and Tim meets those standards,” Huckabee said in a statement. “Tim Huelskamp is a rare breed of leader who boldly stands up for conservative principles — and has a ten-year voting record to prove it.”
Huckabee’s endorsement could be influential in the heavily conservative district.
Huelskamp is one of a few candidates that are already running for Moran’s massive 1st District seat. Rob Wasinger, Brownback’s former chief of staff, is also running, as is businessman Tim Barker. Both Moran and Brownback are not expected to endorse anyone in the race.
(Just as a side note, Kansas is already shaping up to be a political hotbed for 2010. A crowded field has also already formed to run for Rep. Todd Tiahrt’s (R) 4th District seat since he announced he will also seek Brownback’s Senate seat. And, with Brownback running for governor, Democrats have their hopes pinned on popular Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who is on the shortlist to be President Obama’s secretary of health and human services.)