San Diegans for Secure Borders endorsed Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) for governor of California on Tuesday.

“Travis Allen is by far the best candidate in the race for securing our border and fighting illegal immigration,” Jeff Schwilk, founder of SDSB, said in a press release. “Allen is also endorsed by most of the grassroots groups in California. He is by far the Patriot’s choice in this race.”

Schwilk pointed out that Allen’s Republican challenger John Cox told Univision in January that he does not want a secure border fence or wall on the southern border, adding, “Only hard left Democrats say such outrageous and irresponsible things to the media. But then again, Cox was a Never-Trumper who voted for uber-liberal, open borders Gary Johnson for president just 17 months ago. Cox also voted for Jimmy Carter for president.”

In that same interview, Cox reportedly said, “I read five newspapers a day, I’m a politician and I’ve always been a conservative.”

A poll released by the from the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) last month showed Cox in second place, with Democrat Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, leading the crowded field of mostly Democratic candidates.

Cox’s jump to second place in the race leaves former Los Angeles Mayor, and a Democrat, Antonio Villaraigosa, in third place and Allen in a close fourth place.

“Allen consistently wins grassroots conservative polls by a landslide after debates and joint speeches with his main opponent, John Cox,” Schwilk said. “Sunday, after they both spoke at the Unite I.E. Conservative Conference in Riverside to 1000 patriots, Allen won the straw poll with a whopping 93% of the vote! After their first debate in January at the Redlands Tea Party, Allen garnered 81% of the vote of debate attendees vs. 17% for Cox.”

San Diegans for Secure Borders was one of the groups present at a rally supporting President Donald Trump’s border wall in Otay Mesa, California, in December.

Breitbart News had an exclusive interview with the CEO of Fisher Industries, one of four construction companies selected as finalists to build President Donald Trump’s historic border wall.

Among his other campaign promises, Allen has maintained a steadfast commitment to defunding sanctuary cities should be elected as California’s 40th governor.

“I spoke with Travis for several minutes yesterday after the conference and was very impressed with his knowledge about the border and illegal immigration problem and what it will take to fix it,” Shwilk said in the press release. “I gave him our endorsement on the spot, although we have been leaning towards him since last year.”

Adelle Nazarian is a politics and national security reporter for Breitbart News. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.