Rep. Christopher Carney (D-Pa) endorsed fellow Navy veteran Manan Trivedi (D) on Thursday in the Democratic primary for an open House seat in southeastern Pennsylvania. Carney marks Trivedi’s first congressional endorsement in the Democratic primary, where a handful of Keystone State house members have already announced they are supporting former editorial writer Doug Pike.

“We may not agree on every issue, but I can say without question that Manan Trivedi will be the type of congressman we so desperately need,” Carney said in a statement. “I am proud to endorse his candidacy.”

The endorsement is also unique for Carney, who rarely wades into Democratic primaries by making endorsements. Carney, a two-term Democrat, represents a traditionally conservative district in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Trivedi and Pike are running in the Democratic primary for retiring Rep. Jim Gerlach‘s (R-Pa.) suburban Philadelphia House seat. Both Democrats and Republicans have indicated that they plan to target the race, and the GOP has lured a self-funding candidate — businessman Steve Welch — to run in the expensive 6th district.

CQ Politics presently rates the 8th district race as a tossup.

To follow the 2010 House races, check out the CQ Politics election map.