Republican gubernatorial candidate Walker Stapleton has locked down support from House GOP leaders ahead of Saturday’s state party assembly, where he will compete for delegate votes and a spot on the primary ballot.

The two-term state treasurer also received the backing of U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who recorded an endorsement message delivered to Republicans on Thursday.

Calling Stapleton “a loyal and trustworthy ally,” Minority Leader Patrick Neville, Assistant Minority Leader Cole Wist, Caucus Chair Lori Saine and Republican Whip Perry Buck and Joint Budget Committee member Bob Rankin  extolled the front-runner’s virtues in a letter released Friday.

“Each one of us has worked closely with Walker for years. He is razor-sharp on the important issues facing our state, from the budget to pension reform. His unrivaled expertise on these matters makes us better able to do our job of serving you,” they wrote.

“As important, Walker is a loyal and trustworthy ally in our ongoing fight for a more conservative future. If he tells us something is going to get done, it gets done – Walker is a man of his word, a trait increasingly rare in political life.”

Stapleton declared Tuesday he was ditching the nominating petition that had already qualified him for the primary ballot, saying he discovered the night before that the firm he’d paid $200,000 to manage his petition drive had employed an unqualified circulator and lied about it.

Instead, Stapleton said he would join seven other Republicans going through the state assembly, where it will take the support of 30 percent of the delegates to make the ballot.

On Saturday, Stapleton will face primary rivals including Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, businessman and author Barry Farah, former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez and former Denver Trump campaign co-chair Steve Barlock.

Two additional candidates are petitioning onto the ballot: entrepreneur and former state lawmaker Victor Mitchell and retired investment banker Doug Robinson, who is Mitt Romney’s nephew. State officials are reviewing their petitions.

Here’s the robocall recorded by Buck, a former prosecutor serving his second term representing the 4th Congressional District: