– U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner said in an interview she is supporting incumbent Republican Jason Smith for reelection next year, regardless of whether or not Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder moves forward with plans to challenge Smith in a primary.

Wagner, a first-term Republican from St. Louis who represents the freshman class of House Republicans at the leadership table, said Kinder will have to make the final choice as to whether it was worth it to enter the race.

“My feeling about our system is that people have to make those choices and decisions themselves. We have a great democratic process and I like to avoid unnecessary primaries, but that’s everybody’s individual prerogative,” she said.

Wagner, who contributed and supported Smith’s campaign ahead of the June special election, said the newest member of the Missouri delegation is “representing his district very well” and that she will continue to help him.

“He did a fantastic job from a grassroots standpoint getting himself the nomination,” Wagner said, referencing his victory over Kinder during an intra-party battle earlier this year. Beyond that, Wagner said Smith is “a hard worker who is doing a fantastic job.”

Wagner was on the list of co-hosts for a fundraiser Smith had planned earlier this month with Majority Leader Eric Cantor. That event is being rescheduled after it was cancelled due to the government shutdown and lawmakers being stuck in Washington.

Kinder announced before October 1 that he planned to file an exploratory committee to test the waters of a potential primary and begin raising money. Smith, who incurred significant campaign debt during the second quarter, ended the third quarter last month with more than $160,000 on hand.