Republican Governor Terry Branstad has urged his fellow Iowans to not vote for GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz. Branstad has not endorsed any other Republican candidates but opposes Cruz less than two weeks before the caucuses in the state, per the Associated Press.

The Iowa governor is not a fan of the Texas senator's plans to eliminate fuel standards that will affect the state's ethanol and biofuel industry. Many farmers in Iowa grow corn and soybean, which is the source of ethanol used in renewable fuel and biodiesel.

"We should not be supporting somebody who is opposing those things that are of critical importance to the economic well-being of our state. This would be a great way to send a strong message," Branstad said at the Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in Altoona.

Cruz responded back by saying that farmers and people from Iowa are not "career politicians." He added, "Iowa corn farmers are frustrated with career politicians. They're fed up with politicians who make deals every day to grow government."

The 45-year-old senator is a known supporter of Texas' oil industry, a competitor of Iowa's ethanol and biodiesel business. Cruz even wrote a bill back in 2014 that will get rid of fuel standard requirements by the year 2020.

CNN noted that Gov. Branstad's son, Eric, is a member of America's Renewable Future, a group that has previously called out Cruz's Senate bill. The state of Iowa is a known for its agriculture and farming, where a lot of families are getting their income and will be affected by Cruz's current plans.

The report added that the Texas senator is leading in the recent polls from Iowa, but the word of their governor is like an endorsement for Cruz's closest competitor Donald Trump. It got worse for the Texas senator when Sarah Palin backed up Trump's campaign that could possibly alter the results of the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1.

"It's so much fun. And so interesting. I know the governor just made a very big statement that was appreciated by many. And that was amazing, actually. And he's a respected man and when he speaks, people listen. His feelings about one of the other candidates, that's strong feelings," Trump told the Business Insider.

The billionaire businessman was present during Branstad's short speech because he is a supporter of the Iowa's ethanol and biodiesel industry. Other Republican candidates invited in the event were Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.