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With its eyes on the upcoming winner-take-all Republican primary in Arizona, the campaign of Texas senator Ted Cruz has announced a high-profile endorsement in the Grand Canyon State: Congressman David Schweikert, a Tea Party darling who represents parts of Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Ted Cruz speaks at a watch party on March 15, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Photograph: Bob Levey/Getty Images

“My top priority in Congress has always been to do what the Washington insiders simply refuse to do, and that is to reduce the size and cost of government and save our nation from the crushing debt that the Washington politicians have placed on the backs of each and every citizen of our nation,” Schweikert said in a statement released by the campaign.

“Throughout the never ending battles to do this, Ted Cruz has always been a principled leader fighting to do the very same thing,” Schweikert said. “With a federal debt that is quickly approaching an unfathomable $20 trillion, our country’s future economic growth and prosperity are in grave danger unless we elect a principled conservative who is truly committed to stopping the out of control spending and borrowing that has led us to where we are today.”

“It’s clear that Ted is the conservative leader that we need as our next president, and my wife Joyce and I are proud to give him our strongest endorsement. In the upcoming Arizona presidential preference primary, Ted is the clear choice for voters who want a conservative president who is truly committed to fixing the mess in Washington,” Schweikert concluded.

“I am thrilled to have such a passionate fighter for liberty on our team,” Cruz said in the same statement. “David has spent his time in Congress fighting against the Washington Cartel and protecting the interests of the American people. He has worked to rein in Obama’s lawlessness, repeal Obamacare, and stop the President’s illegal executive amnesty. David is a strong addition to our team and I am thankful for his leadership fighting on issues that are most important to conservatives.”

Donald Trump, whose strong rhetoric on immigration will likely strike a cord in the border state, has won the endorsements of Jan Brewer, the popular former governor who bore the brunt of nationwide criticism after she signed a controversial bill requiring immigrants to carry documents proving their legal status, as well as that of Joe Arpaio, “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” whose stances on undocumented immigrants have made him a celebrity in the state.