The National Republican Congressional Committee has named state Rep. Rick Berg to the first tier of its “Young Guns” program for top challengers and open-seat candidates.

Berg will be added to the “On the Radar” level, joining 35 other GOP House candidates. Another 22 candidates are at the “Contender” level, while 10 have made it to the top “Young Guns” category.

Berg won the state party’s endorsement at the North Dakota Republican convention, comfortably topping his nearest rival, North Dakota Public Service Commission Chairman Kevin Cramer, who subsequently stepped aside, giving Berg a straight shot at Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D) for the at-large seat in November.