Patagonia, a popular outdoor clothing and gears company, Friday publicly endorsed two Senate candidates in the western U.S. states of Nevada and Montana.

Political experts said the move constituted the first time any corporation had explicitly endorsed a candidate for office.

In a statement issued Friday, the California-based company announced that it is endorsing candidates for the first time this year because of "the urgent and unprecedented threats to our public lands and waters."

The two Democrats supported by the famous outdoor brand are incumbent Senator Jon Tester who is running for reelection in the state of Montana and Representative Jacky Rosen who is seeking to an unseat Senator position in the state of Nevada.

The endorsements will appear on the company's websites, social media and in customer emails.

The two Senate races are among the most competitive in the midterm elections this fall with Republicans holding a razor-thin 51-to-49 majority on poll so far. The U.S. President Donald Trump flied to Montana Thursday and is scheduled to Nevada Saturday night to show his support for the Republic candidates there.

The Washington Post reported the news Friday and analyzed that even though some CEOs and other high-level executives endorsed candidates as well, but what Patagonia has done is totally different, saying "it may constitute the first time any corporation has explicitly endorsed a candidate for office."

Richard Briffault, a Columbia Law School professor and campaign finance expert, was quoted as saying that he was not aware of a similar corporate endorsement of a candidate before although he can't say it never happened.

Michael S. Kang, a law professor and campaign-finance expert at Northwestern University, could not recall any other public endorsement of a candidate from a corporations as well.

"Consumer-facing companies traditionally shy away from taking sides publicly in candidate races," he told the Washington Post, adding the move is not illegal.

Patagonia said in its statement that its move is "about standing up for the millions of Americans who want to see wild places protected for future generations. That's something we will always do, regardless of political party."

It's not the first time for Patagonia involving into politics. Since Trump was sworn into the White House, Patagonia's public political activity has increased.

Last year, the company led a law suit charging the Trump administration's decision to shrink in size two national monuments in the state of Utah and its website declared "The President Stole Your Land."

On the Patagonia's homepage Saturday, there is a campaign titled "Democracy Requires showing up," encouraging people to vote in November's elections.

"The threats to democracy have never been more real. Free and fair elections are being challenged at every level. Millions are speaking up and not being heard. This is our opportunity to elect leaders who listen and will make a difference in determining the future of our social and environmental policy for years to come," advertising of the campaign said.

The Friday's statement repeated the company's opinion, saying "our democracy depends on showing up on Election Day, and our planet depends on leaders who will protect it."