Republican candidate for agriculture commissioner Sid Miller is expecting a public endorsement from Gov. Rick Perry in the coming days, according to a source close to his campaign. Miller, the former state representative from Stephenville, will face former state Rep. Tommy Merritt of Longview in the runoff on May 27. 

The governor’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 

An endorsement in the agriculture commissioner race would be a notable departure from the norm for Perry this election season. Perry has not weighed in substantially on any statewide race; he has not even endorsed his own lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst, in his runoff against state senator Dan Patrick. Given that his political career began in the agriculture commissioner’s office, an endorsement from him would likely carry some weight. 

The only public endorsements Perry has given this year were for an unsuccessful candidate in House District 10, retired Navy pilot Jake Ellzey, and four incumbent judges whom Perry appointed.