UPDATED TO CLARIFY CRAVAACK SUPPORT

Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Honour is tapping into his personal fortune to competes in the wide open GOP field for the state's highest-elected office.

Pat Shortridge, a senior adviser for Honour, confirmed that the candidate renewed his commitment to his campaign with an additional loan of $250,000. Shortridge said the new infusion is part of a major fundraising push for the next phase of the campaign.

That comes on top of $50,000 that Honour loaned his campaign in the first quarter of this year.

Honour had the best fundraising quarter of any of the GOP rivals, netting more than $200,000 through March, even outraising DFL Gov. Mark Dayton.

Honour is not abiding by the GOP endorsement at the end of the month, so he is pressing on to the August primary.

On Wednesday, former Minnesota U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack renewed his support of Honour. Cravaack endorsed Honour previously.

"He is a business leader, and will take on the tough problems facing our state rather than doing what is politically convenient just to get re-elected," said Cravaack, a Republican who represented Minnesota's 8th Congressional District. "Scott hasn't spent his career in politics, and electing him will send a message to career politicians that it's the end of business as usual, that it is time for new leaders and a new direction for our state."

Honour and Cravaack have spent the week traveling together, stopping in Virginia, Duluth, Hinkley and elsewhere.

"I am grateful and honored to have the support of Chip Cravaack," Honour said. "With his help I'll continue building a strong coalition of leaders and supporters that will be successful in defeating Mark Dayton in November."