First-time candidate Joe Harding announced the endorsement of Senator Dennis Baxley on Tuesday, adding another prominent Republican backer to his bid for Florida House District 22.

Baxley, who currently represents District 12, which includes Sumter County and parts of Lake and Marion Counties, is a former Mayor and State Representative and the current State Senator for the area. He is best known for championing Florida’s Castle Doctrine and is one of the most ardent pro-life officials in the legislature.

“Joe Harding is the right conservative to represent us in the Florida House,” said Baxley in a press release. “Joe’s dedication to job creation, pro-life values, and our Second Amendment rights make him the obvious choice for House District 22 conservatives.”

Harding, a businessman from Williston, is fresh off his Aug. 18 Republican primary victory, earning 67 percent of the vote, while his opponent Russ Randall only received 32 percent of the vote.

Harding will now move on to now face off against Democratic candidate Barbara Byram in the general election on Nov. 3.

“This endorsement is a testament to our dedication to the conservative cause,” said Harding. “Senator Baxley has always been the conservative who our community looks up to, and we’re happy to have his support for this campaign.”

With today’s endorsement, Baxley joins a long list of supporters for Harding’s campaign, including State Representative Stan McClain, Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum, Williston Mayor Jerry Robinson, and Belleview Mayor Christine Dobkowski.

Harding has also been endorsed by several organizations and groups, including the Florida Chamber, the Police Benevolent Association, and the Gator Fire Council.

HD 22 covers all of Levy County, as well as southwest Marion County, which is home to Ocala.