The campaign of State Sen. E.J. Pipkin announced today the endorsement of Senate Minority Leader David R. Brinkley. Pipkin is challenging incumbent Rep. Wayne Gilchrest in the Republican primary in Maryland’s 1st Congressional District.

“Sen. Brinkley is a very-well respected man and an outstanding Republican,” Andi Morony, Pipkin’s press secretary, said in an interview with PolitickerMD.com.

Morony referred to Brinkley’s said the endorsement would “absolutely” help the campaign.

Brinkley, speaking with PolitickerMD.com, said that Pipkin was the “best candidate to keep the (congressional) seat on the Republican side.”

The minority leader also described Pipkin as being very “energetic” and said the state senator was “committed” to the people of the first district.

Brinkley highlighted Pipkin’s record on issues related to the environment and the agricultural community.

He also discussed Pipkin’s desire to “keep government at a minimum,” and said that Pipkin would “keep taxes under control and lowered.”

Brinkley said he was worried about the Republican incumbent Wayne Gilchrest’s “lack of support for the president” on issues related to “national security.” He pointed to the war in Iraq, an area where Gilchrest has distanced himself from the president and called for diplomacy and troop reductions.

Brinkley said that he would assist the Pipkin campaign in whatever way possible, but added that he had yet to speak with Pipkin about the possibility of campaigning for and with the state senator.

“We are not at that point yet,” Brinkley said.

“E.J. and I have worked closely together in the past,” Brinkley later added. “I know where he stands.”