The Colorado senator threw his support behind Marco Rubio on Monday. | AP Photo Cory Gardner endorses Marco Rubio for president

Sen. Cory Gardner on Monday threw his support behind Sen. Marco Rubio in the 2016 race, handing the Florida politician his first endorsement from a fellow senator.

"Today I am proud to announce my endorsement of Marco Rubio to be the president of the United States," Gardner said on Fox News. "Our country needs a new generation of leadership and I believe Marco Rubio presents this nation with the greatest possibilities and opportunities to meet the challenges of this generation."


The support from the Colorado senator comes as Rubio is enjoying a wave of momentum, following a strong debate performance last week and the endorsement of billionaire investor and Republican donor Paul Singer. Gardner is seen as a rising star within the party, having won reelection in the 2014 cycle by defeating now-former-Sen. Mark Udall.

Gardner painted Rubio as the candidate of the future in the GOP Republican primary field and praised his work on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"He's someone who's fought for human rights and championed freedom around the globe," Gardner said.

"Is this sort of like high school? If you miss class do you have to give him your homework if he's not there?" Fox's Jenna Lee asked, an allusion to the number of votes Rubio has missed in the Senate. "Pass notes along just in case?"

"If you look some of the other candidates, they're actually trying to copy off of his homework right now," Gardner said.

CORRECTION: Correction: Gardner was being interviewed by Jenna Lee, not Megyn Kelly.