WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Congressman Tim Huelskamp is touting his endorsement by a college student who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in Kansas’ 1st Congressional District.

Bryan Whitney is a political science student at Wichita State University. He was defeated in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary by former Manhattan mayor Jim Sherow who teaches history at Kansas State University.

In a news release from the Huelskamp campaign, Whitney said Thursday he believes the GOP incumbent will better represent the values of western Kansans in the U.S. House.

Whitney is not the only one to cross party lines ahead of November’s elections.

A group of moderate former Republican state legislators called Traditional Republicans for Common Sense has endorsed Sherow over Huelskamp, a tea party favorite.