TOPEKA — Rep. Jerry Moran will not seek the Republican nomination for governor next year, state GOP Chairman Tim Shallenburger said today.
Shallenburger said Moran intends to seek re-election in the 1st Congressional District, which covers western and central Kansas. Moran has held the seat - with little effort - since 1997.
"At least we know he's out of play now," Shallenburger told The Associated Press.
Moran's decision leaves Kansas House Speaker Doug Mays, of Topeka, as the only announced candidate in the race for the Republican nomination and the right to challenge Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who is expected to seek re-election.
Neither Moran nor his chief of staff, Travis Murphy, were immediately available for comment. They had said Moran would make a decision by the end of August.
Many Republicans have seen Moran as the best challenger for Sebelius, viewing him as a candidate who could unite the GOP's ever-feuding conservative and moderate wings. In April, Moran told prominent Republicans he wouldn't run for governor, then said a month later he was reconsidering.
"My gut instinct was that he wasn't going to run," said Bob Beatty, a Washburn University political scientist. "I just thought he would have jumped in earlier."
Beatty added: "If you're Kathleen Sebelius and you're planning on running for re-election, you are pleased that a popular, genial and well-known congressman is not running. As for whether it's better or worse with Doug Mays, it really depends on his campaign, and he hasn't been really able to campaign because of the Moran factor."
Mays announced his candidacy in May and has said he would stay in the race, regardless of Moran's plans. Another potential candidate is Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, of Independence.
"It really puts the spotlight back on Doug Mays," Beatty said. "Doug Mays has to get out and tell people who he is."
Shallenburger said he isn't disappointed by Moran's decision because he believes the GOP will have a strong candidate.
"He would have been a good candidate," Shallenburger said. "He probably hit the ground running a little faster than other candidates might, but we can get them motivated now."
Republicans have found themselves in the same position as four years ago, when they waited for Moran to decide his plans. Moran ultimately decided not to run for governor. Shallenburger, the most conservative candidate, won the GOP nomination and lost the 2002 general election to Sebelius.
Moran remains popular in his sprawling district and had no Democrats challenge his re-election in 2000, 2002 or 2004. He's likely to win a sixth term easily.
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