By JOHN HANNA, Associated Press ? Attorney General Carla Stovall dropped out of the Republican race for governor Monday, saying she didn’t have the desire to campaign or serve in the office.

Stovall said she contemplated quitting the race in early January and later concluded that she had made a mistake jumping into it.

Her decision leaves her fellow moderate Republicans without a chosen candidate, though several hopefuls have been considering the race since speculation grew last week that Stovall would exit the race.

Stovall made her announcement in the lobby outside her office in the Memorial Building in Topeka, near the Capitol, after granting an interview to a Wichita radio network.

The network is owned by Stovall’s close friend, Larry Steckline, with whom she vacationed last week in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Speculation that Stovall would abandon her campaign built while she was overseas.

Stovall, 45, urged Republicans to encourage House Speaker Kent Glasscock, her lieutenant-governor running mate, to enter the governor’s race and endorsed him. Glasscock did not plan to make an announcement Monday.

Stovall said she was leaving the race because she did “not have the passion or commitment” for a third statewide campaign or to serve as governor.

Already in the race for the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Bill Graves are State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger, considered the conservatives’ choice, and Wichita Mayor Bob Knight. Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius is the only announced Democratic candidate.

Republican Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer has said he would announce by Wednesday whether he will run for governor. Senate President Dave Kerr plans to disclose his intentions after the Legislature ends its session in May.

Last year, moderates united behind Stovall in hopes of defeating Shallenburger in a one-on-one primary race between the party’s two feuding camps. Knight’s entry in January made the race more complicated.

Steckline, 60, a widower, said Monday that he and Stovall have had a relationship for the past four months.

“So that’s not news, quite honestly, and a great relationship it is,” Steckline told his network.

“As far as her political aspirations are concerned, that’s her business,” Steckline said. “But I must tell you, she has made up her mind on a couple of things, including running for governor.”

Stovall said she made her decision about her political future before she left on the overseas trip.

Asked if he had any say in Stovall’s decision, Steckline said, “No, I sure don’t. I could care less, either direction.”

But, he added, “I must tell you that she hasn’t been real excited about the governorship from day one.”

Stovall is serving her second term as attorney general, having been elected in 1994 after serving on the Kansas Parole Board and as Crawford County attorney. She won re-election in 1998 with more than 75 percent of the vote.