House GOP leaders will host a fundraising reception next month for Vaughn Ward (R), a former Senate aide and CIA employee who is vying to unseat freshman Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho).

According to an invitation Ward’s campaign distributed Monday, sponsors of the Dec. 8 Washington, D.C., event include Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio), Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas). Rep. Mike Simpson (R), who represents Idaho’s 2nd district, also is listed on the invitation.

House leaders frequently attend fundraising receptions to benefit preferred candidates, but Ward’s event is noteworthy because he’s not the only candidate in the Republican primary next May.

However, the NRCC is bullish about Ward’s chances. It has singled out Ward for special recognition in its “Young Guns— candidate recruitment program.

The GOP race also includes state Rep. Raul Labrador, who entered the contest after state Rep. Ken Roberts ended his campaign earlier this month.

And former Rep. Bill Sali (R), whom Minnick unseated in 2008, hasn’t decided on a 2010 campaign.