Updated 1:35 p.m. | Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., endorsed embattled former Gov. Mark Sanford’s bid for the 1st District special election.

“Mark has proven during his time in office that watching out for taxpayers and holding the line on spending are his top priorities,” Paul said in a press release from the Sanford campaign.

“What we absolutely cannot afford is someone like his opponent, who will be yet another vote for a return to the Pelosi speakership, for disastrous programs like Obamacare, and for more spending and debt,” he added. “I am pleased to endorse Mark and stand with him in this race,” he added.

endorsed Sanford

Also, FreedomWorks, a conservative outside group, invested about $7,200 to help Sanford, according to Federal Election Commission reports filed on April 26.

Several other Republican and conservative groups — the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Club for Growth and the Congressional Leadership Fund — have indicated they will not get involved in this race.

Update 1:35 p.m.

FreedomWorks PAC, a group of conservative activists, endorsed Sanford on Tuesday.

“Mark Sanford will be a consistent vote to get spending under control, pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, repeal and replace ObamaCare, and make the tax code fairer and simpler for all Americans,” FreedomWorks PAC President Matt Kibbe said in a press release. “FreedomWorks PAC activists across the District support Mark Sanford and we will be taking action in this final week to make sure Mark Sanford represents District 1 taxpayers in Washington.”