Topeka ? Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius introduced Wichita aircraft executive John Moore on Thursday as her running mate in the governor’s race.

Sebelius is the only announced Democratic candidate, and Moore would be her choice for lieutenant governor after switching his party registration from Republican to Democrat less than three weeks ago.

The insurance commissioner told supporters during a Wichita rally that she was pleased Moore had agreed to join her ticket because she likes bringing new people into the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Carla Stovall endorsed Mayor Bob Knight’s bid for the Republican nomination. The Knight ticket lured her former running mate and a large amount of money she once raised for her own campaign.

Sebelius planned a statewide tour with Moore. They began in Wichita at Yingling Aviation at Mid-Continent Airport. Other stops were planned in Topeka, Salina, Kansas City and Pittsburg.

Moore, executive vice president of the Cessna Aircraft Co., was registered as a Republican until May 11, when he switched to Democrat. Yingling Aviation is a Cessna dealer.

State Democratic Chairman Tom Sawyer said Moore and Sebelius have worked together for 12 years, including service on the Kansas Children’s Cabinet, a group formed in 1999 to guide how money from the state’s legal settlement with the tobacco industry will be spent. Moore is the cabinet’s chairman, while Sebelius serves on it.

In endorsing Knight, Stovall said the team of the Wichita mayor and House Speaker Kent Glasscock had the leadership to address Kansas’ challenges.

“It’s a great team, and I will do everything I can to make sure they become our next governor and lieutenant governor,” Stovall said in a statement.

Knight is one of four announced Republican candidates. Also in the race are State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger, Senate President Dave Kerr and former Eudora school superintendent Dan Bloom. The filing deadline is noon June 10.

Knight said he shared more than a common running mate with Stovall, noting her stance on public safety.

Stovall dropped out of the race in April, citing a change of heart and the lack of desire to mount a statewide campaign. She transferred an undisclosed amount of cash to Glasscock, who in turn brought that to the Knight campaign.

However, several donors, including Westar Energy, have requested that their contributions be returned. The Knight campaign has not said how many requests have been made or how much money may be returned.

Kerr said he was not surprised by Stovall’s endorsement, but added that a bigger concern would be how and when contributions would be returned to donors.

“I’m anticipating getting some of that money,” said Kerr, noting that he has been contacted by former Stovall supporters.

Shallenburger has joined with Overland Park businessman David Lindstrom, a former defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs. Lindstrom has never served in elected office but has been active on various advisory boards in Johnson County and in Kansas. Bloom is running with his son, Eric, a senior at the University of Kansas.

Kerr, who kicked off his campaign Tuesday, was expected to announce his choice for lieutenant governor early next week.