The Republican primary in Colorado’s 4th District is getting crowded even though national Republican officials are backing the campaign of state Rep. Cory Gardner against freshman Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey.

Dean Madere, a self-described “average middle class citizen” who has been active in local conservative groups, formally kicked off his campaign Wednesday. He is the fourth Republican to announce plans to seek the district in northern and eastern Colorado that Markey won last year by beating then-Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave.

Madere’s announcement came a few days after Diggs Brown, a financial adviser and military veteran, said that he would be a candidate.