Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton has endorsed Michigan GOP Senate candidate John James, according to a statement obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation.

The campaign says that Bolton endorsed James Thursday, presumably before President Donald Trump appointed him to serve as his national security adviser, effective April 9. Bolton’s endorsement adds to the list of big-name conservative rallying around James, the 37-year old Iraq war combat veteran and Detroit businessman, in his efforts to defeat Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

The John Bolton PAC was “founded to raise the importance of American national security in federal elections,” according to its website. Bolton served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from August 2005 to December 2006, and is most recently a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Bolton has called for regime change in both Iran and North Korea, and has been vehemently opposed to the Iran Deal.

James responded to Bolton’s endorsement in a statement to TheDCNF, expressing his gratitude for the former ambassador and saying he looks forward to “continuing the fight for freedom.”

“I’m honored to have the support of Ambassador John Bolton,” James said in a statement. “I understand national security from a strategic to a tactical level. I understand how to keep Americans safe because I’ve done it before and will continue to do so as Michigan’s next U.S. Senator.”

The endorsement came the same day the American Conservative Union (ACU), hosts of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), endorsed James. The GOP candidate was also endorsed by the Senate Conservatives Fund in late January.

The former Navy SEAL involved in the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, Robert O’Neill, campaigned across the state with James in December, telling TheDCNF that, “John represents the best America has to offer, his relevant experience graduating from West Point and serving in combat makes him just the person Michigan, and America, needs in the US Senate.” (RELATED: Navy SEAL Who Shot Bin Laden Hits The Gun Range With Michigan Senate Candidate [VIDEO])

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Popular musician Kid Rock, who contemplated a Senate bid for months before announcing that he would not run in October, signaled support when he invited James to sit court-side at the Detroit Pistons in January. (RELATED: Kid Rock Hosts Up-And-Coming GOP Senate Candidate Court-Side At The Pistons Game)

As well as the long list of endorsements, James greatly improved his fundraising situation, announcing in late January that his team has raised more than $1 million in three and half months. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Fundraising Numbers Show GOP Consolidating Around Army Vet To Take On Stabenow)

James faces two other candidates in the Michigan GOP Primary, businessman Sandy Pensler and historic preservationist Bob Carr.

The primary will take place on Aug. 7, 2018. The winner will take on Stabenow in the Nov. 6 primary.

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