Republican Sixth Congressional District candidate Tom Emmer has picked up the endorsement of the Tea Party Express, the nation's largest Tea Party political action committee.

Retiring U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is also formally backing Emmer to succeed her in Congress.

"Tom Emmer is exactly the type of constitutional conservative we need in Washington, D.C. He's a hard charging conservative who will never waver," said Tea Party express executive director Taylor Budowich in a statement.

"We are confident that Tom will carry on the legacy of tea party stalwart, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and continue her fight to reign in the Obama administration's big government liberal agenda."

Emmer won the party endorsement this month, but the other Republicans in the race, Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah and former state Rep. Phil Krinkie, plan to challenge him in an August primary.