EXCLUSIVE — Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is backing Kari Lake for her competitive Senate bid in Arizona, offering her one of the most high-profile endorsements yet from the upper chamber.

Cornyn lauded Lake’s campaign stances on the economy and border, praising the Republican candidate as Republicans’ best choice to cut down on illegal immigration in the border state. Cornyn’s endorsement comes as the Texas Republican eyes a bid to become the party’s Senate leader next year and flip the upper chamber into GOP control.