Republicans in Colorado's 4th Congressional District cannot afford to mess around. We hope they emerge from the April 11 congressional assembly with a proven leader on the ballot: Ken Buck.

The tough-on-crime Weld County district attorney had been in the U.S. Senate race and graciously stepped aside to allow U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, who represents the 4th, to run alone for nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, a Boulder Democrat. With Gardner out of the House race, Buck stepped in.

Weld District Attorney Ken Buck received a key political endorsement from U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., on Thursday.

Gardner, who is leaving his seat in the 4th Congressional District to run for the U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Udall, wrote in an email statement that he is supporting Buck as the 4th CD’s next representative in Congress.