The political arm of Kansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization, is endorsing Great Bend physician Roger Marshall over incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the “Big First” congressional district in western Kansas.

The announcement Friday deals a major blow to Huelskamp, a three-term incumbent. KFB is a major presence in rural communities throughout Kansas, and its political action committee, VOTE KFB, wields considerable influence among rural Kansas voters.

In recent years, Huelskamp, a Tea Party favorite, has often been at odds with GOP leaders in the U.S. House, so much so that he was removed from the House Agriculture Committee in 2012. That riled KFB members because it marked the first time in modern memory that no Kansas representative served on that committee. During the 2014 elections, VOTE KFB made no endorsement in the 1st District.

“The county Farm Bureau evaluation committees made thoughtful recommendations in each district,” KFB’s political action committee said in a statement. “A clear message of strong support was delivered to the VOTE FBF board, and these endorsements are a result of that effort. We are proud of our grass roots process, and look forward to working with all of these individuals in the next Congress.”

The primary campaign in the 1st District heated up early when Marshall got into the race in April. In press releases and social media posts, Huelskamp has attacked Marshall, an obstetrician-gynecologist, for being tied to a medical practice that supports abortion.

Marshall, however, describes himself as “staunchly pro-life” and says he “oppose any efforts to ever use taxpayer funding for abortions.”

VOTE KFB endorsed two other incumbent members of congress: Reps. Lynn Jenkins in the 2nd District, which includes Lawrence; and Mike Pompeo in the Wichita-centered 4th District. Earlier this year the group announced its endorsement of 3rd District Rep. Kevin Yoder and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran.