Former Rep. Jim Ryun (R) has endorsed state Sen. Tim Huelskamp (R) in the GOP primary to succeed Rep. Jerry Moran (R), who is stepping down to run for Senate in 2010.

Ryun recently penned a letter to his donors in which he called Huelskamp “a top-notch Kansas state senator for more than a decade.— Ryun will also be the guest at a fundraising event for Huelskamp’s campaign on July 29.

Ryun, who represented the 2nd district for several terms, lost re-election to Democrat Nancy Boyda in one of several upsets of the 2006 cycle. He ran again in 2008, but lost the primary to now-Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R).

In other news from the open-seat 1st district race, businessman Tim Barker (R) has dropped out of the race. Huelskamp now faces state Sen. Jim Barnett, businessman Tracey Mann and Rob Wasinger, a former chief of staff to Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), in the GOP primary.