HOUSTON, Texas — Texas House candidate for District 137, Morad Fiki received the endorsement of former U.S. Representative Allen West (R-FL). The endorsement of Fiki, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Navy Reserve Lieutenant, came after a recent “Points of Light” celebration dinner hosted by the Daughters of Liberty Republican Women’s Club in Houston. West is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel. Fiki is running in the race for Texas House District 137 against incumbent Democrat Gene Wu.

“We need quality military and minority conservatives at the Federal level,” West said, “but we also need them at the state and local levels of governance. Why? Because the oath Morad took and continues to serve under has meaning.”

West went further and published a written article about Fiki on West’s nationally recognized conservative website. “He’s such a threat to the progressive socialists — yeah, there are some here even in the Houston area — that they’re up to their usual chicanery, stealing his campaign signs,” West wrote. “That’s how Democrats respond to a man of honor, integrity and character.”

“So this is one young man to keep an eye on and learn more about,” West concluded.

In West’s article he described Fiki’s Marine Corps service where he served for three years at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. Following his honorable discharge from the Marines, West said Fiki returned to Houston and earned his Bachelors in Business Administration degree from the University of Houston and then earned a commission in the U.S. Navy where he then went to flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. Fiki now serves in the Navy Reserves at Ellington Field in Houston.

Fiki is a first-generation American. His parents immigrated legally to the U.S. from Venezuela and Egypt. West said Fiki refers to himself as  “Texan by heart with a Venezuelan/Egyptian heritage.”

Early voting is now underway and continues through Oct. 31. The General Election date is Tuesday, November 4th.

Bob Price is a staff writer and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.