TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Tea party movement icon and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has endorsed the re-election of Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts and is planning to help his fellow Republican kick off a four-day bus tour.

The Roberts campaign announced Cruz’s endorsement Monday. It also said that Cruz plans to travel Thursday to Wichita to launch the bus tour, which includes stops in 11 communities.

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn also is planning to join Roberts for five bus-tour events Thursday and Friday.

Roberts is seeking his fourth term in the Senate and is in a tough race against independent candidate and Olathe businessman Greg Orman.

Orman’s campaign said campaigning with Cruz shows that Roberts is, in its words, “an enthusiastic participant in a broken system” in Washington.