Kansas State Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, picked up yet another endorsement today in the First District Congressional race, this one from former Congressman Jim Ryun.

Ryun announced his support for Huelskamp in a fundraising letter as a "a top-notch Kansas state senator for more than a decade, earning many accolades including a lifetime A+ NRA rating — the endorsement of Kansans for Life — and Taxpayer Champion by AFP (Americans for Prosperity)."

Huelskamp has gained a whopping 34 endorsements since announcing his intentions to run in December of last year. The list is long and growing longer:

• Gun Owners of America
• Former Speaker of the House and current legislator Rep. Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls
• Former Kansas Speaker of the House Robin Jennison
• Founder of the National Center on Fathering Ken Canfield
• Vice President of the Kansas State Rifle Association George Petersen
• President of the Kansas State Rifle Association Patricia Stoneking
• President of the Hodgdon Powder Company and board member of the National Rifle Association Bob Hodgdon
• Citizens United Political Victory Fund, along with leader of the group, David Bossie
• Former Executive Director of the Kansas Taxpayers Network Karl Peterjohn
• Conservative leader Phil Burress
• President of Let Freedom Ring USA Colin Hanna
• Pro-Life leader Jill Stanek
• Kansans for Life
• Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee
• Chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition Rev. Louis Sheldon
• Former Ohio Secretary of State and Republican National Committee Chair candidate Ken Blackwell
• Concerned Women of America political action committee
• Rep. Peggy Mast, R-Emporia
• Rep. Lance Kinzer, R-Olathe
• Rep. Anthony Brown, R-Eudora
• Rep. Steve Huebert, R-Valley Center
• Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro
• Rep. Phil Hermanson, R-Wichita
• Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook, R-Shawnee
• Rep. Larry Powell, R-Garden City
• Rep. Rocky Fund, R-Hoyt
• Rep. Dan Kerschen, R-Garden Plain
• Sen. Steve Abrams, R-Arkansas City
• Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell
• Rep. Jim Morrison, R-Colby
• Rep. Owen Donohoe, R-Shawnee
• Rep. Mario Goico, R-Wichita
• Rep. Don Schroeder, R-Inman

Huelskamp is facing off against five other Republicans for the congressional position including former Brownback aide Rob Wasinger; Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia; Sue Boldra; Tracey Mann; and the latest entrant, Monte Shadwick, a Salina resident who announced his intention to run July 1.

Pratt resident Tim Barker withdrew from the race yesterday citing family reasons, according to a report in the Pratt Tribune.

So far Shadwick, Barnett and Boldra have not gathered any endorsements.

Shadwick, a former staffer of U.S. Rep Jerry Moran, said he has not yet asked anyone for an endorsement, though he said he planned to do so soon. He acknowledged that it was an important aspect of any campaign.

“We still have plenty of time to start lining up supporters,” Shadwick told Kansas Liberty. “I know some have started earlier than I have, but I don’t really feel behind at all given the amount of time we have left.”

Shadwick said he was launching his campaign by visiting all 69 counties in the big First District within the next two months.

Mann, a Salina resident and vice president of industrial sales and leasing for Zimmer Real Estate Services, has picked up one endorsement from Waldo McBurney, a Quinter resident who was named “America’s Oldest Worker.”

“The real endorsement process begins more than a year from now when the voters will decide who the next Republican candidate for congress will be," Mann told Kansas Liberty. "I think the average voter has a mind of his or her own and will vote for the person they think will represent them best."

Rob Wasinger, a Hays resident and former chief of staff for Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, has picked up endorsements from former presidential candidate Sen. Fred Thompson and national conservative leader David Barton.

Boldra, Wasinger and Barnett did not respond to Kansas Liberty’s requests for comments.

Resources

• Tim Huelskamp for Congress

http://www.huelskamp.org/

• Sue Boldra for Congress

http://www.sueboldra.com/

• Jim Barnett for Congress

http://barnettforcongress.com/

• Tracey Mann for Congress

http://www.mannforcongress.com/

• Rob Wasinger for Congress

http://www.robwasinger.com/s/

• Monte Shadwick for Congress

www.shadwickforcongress.com

• Pratt Tribune article on Barker withdrawal: http://www.pratttribune.com/news/x135742830/Barker-exits-race-for-First-District
• Disclosure: Sen. Mary Pilcher-Cook is publisher of Kansas Liberty. She was not consulted for this article and Kansas Liberty has not endorsed any candidates for public office.

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