Former President Barack Obama endorsed Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak on Friday in an effort to boost his chances in a competitive race for governor.

Obama, who won the state running for president in 2008 and 2012, noted in a statement that Sisolak could be the first Democrat elected to the state’s highest office in two decades.

“Steve Sisolak will fight for justice, equality, and opportunity for all Nevadans, and I’m proud to endorse his candidacy for governor,” Obama said. “Whether it’s tirelessly advocating for educators and students, protecting access to affordable health care, or investing in workers, Steve will always stand with Nevadans — and I’m asking Nevada to join me in standing with him this fall.”

Sisolak, a Democrat, is facing GOP Attorney General Adam Laxalt, a conservative who has tried to frame the County Commission chairman as a radical and corrupt liberal. In the past, Laxalt has opposed the Affordable Care Act, Obama’s signature legislative achievement, and he sued or issued legal opinions over several Obama-era rules, such as the Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon emission.

The former president, who has often weighed in on politics and made implicit criticisms of his successor President Donald Trump, has been actively endorsing candidates in the 2018 election since early August. Obama announced his first wave of 81 endorsements on Aug. 1, a list that included dozens of candidates, including U.S. Senate hopeful Rep. Jacky Rosen.

“It’s truly an honor to receive President Obama’s endorsement,” Sisolak said in a statement. “There are few leaders who have stood so strongly for our working families. From lifting us out of the Great Recession and establishing the Affordable Care Act, to leading the drive to make Nevada a leader in new industries like renewable energy, he fought for the issues that matter most to Nevada families.”

Disclosure: Steve Sisolak has donated to The Nevada Independent. You can see a full list of donors here.