NEWTON COUNTY — Republican State Senate hopeful Bret Dunn has received a crucial endorsement in his campaign for the District 42 seat.

On March 26, Dunn announced that he had earned the endorsement of Gov. Brian Kemp. It is the most notable endorsement he has received thus far.

“As a Marine Corps veteran, Bret Dunn knows first hand what it means to serve our country with dignity, determination, and honor,” Kemp wrote. “I know that he will bring those same values to the Georgia Capitol and be an unapologetic conservative for Senate District 42 in the fight to keep our state the best place in the nation to live, work and raise a family.”

Dunn, a Newton County native, works as an attorney and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is looking to succeed current Senator Brian Strickland, who is foregoing reelection to run for the state attorney general office. Strickland has also endorsed Dunn to serve as his successor.

With no other Republican qualifiers, Dunn is set to advance past the general primary in May and onto the general election on Nov. 3. Dunn is expected to face off against Democratic challenger Rev. Eric Lee. Lee is the pastor of Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers.

District 42 is composed of all of Morgan County as well as much of Newton County and portions of Henry and Walton Counties.