Moran won’t oppose Sebelius

Democrats say decision indicative of rift within state GOP

Topeka ? U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran on Tuesday announced he would not seek the Republican nomination for governor, a decision that Democrats touted as more evidence that the GOP was mired in internal political warfare.

“The extreme conservative leadership of the Kansas Republican Party continues to alienate its moderate members,” Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates said.

Moran, of Hays, is one of those rare Kansas Republicans who appealed to both moderates and conservatives.

But Moran said it was family – not politics – that made him decide not to run for governor in 2006.

He said a hot political race would mean too much time away from his wife and two daughters.

“With Kelsey and Alex both in high school next year, a statewide race at this point in their lives would force them, and their parents, to miss many of the events that are important in a young person’s life. That is a sacrifice our family has decided that we cannot manage at this time,” Moran said.

Instead he will seek a sixth term to represent the sprawling 1st Congressional District.

State Republican Party Chairman Tim Shallenburger also denied Moran’s decision had anything to do with inter-GOP battles between moderates and conservatives.

“Just wait for a few days and you’ll probably see a field develop,” Shallenburger said.

Moran’s announcement ended months of speculation.

With Moran out of the governor’s race, House Speaker Doug Mays, a Republican from Topeka, becomes the major candidate in the GOP at this point.

Richard Rodewald of Eudora, who has run unsuccessfully for several offices, has filed papers indicating he intends to run for governor in the Republican Party primary.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, who is expected to run for re-election may have had something to do with Moran not running, Washburn political science professor Bob Beatty said.

Even though Republicans enjoy a significant advantage over Democrats in voter registration, Moran would have had a tough race against Sebelius, Beatty said.

“It’s a gamble to leave D.C. and run for governor because you might lose,” Beatty said.

Plus, Beatty said, Moran enjoys being a congressman. “To trade it in for something you might not even win, and you are term limited if you do win, it’s a decision he doesn’t want to take,” Beatty said.

The strained relations within the state GOP were displayed by the way Moran made the announcement – by press release without any warning to party leaders, such as Shallenburger.

Shallenburger, who lost to Sebelius in 2002, said not getting a heads-up didn’t bother him but he added, “I’m glad he made a decision. I was becoming frustrated with the continual delay,” he said. Shallenburger said he hasn’t spoken with Moran in six weeks.

Earlier this year, Moran had said he would seek another term in Congress, but then later said he hadn’t made up his mind.

On Tuesday, he said, “This has easily been the most difficult decision of my professional, political and personal life.”

Sebelius issued a statement, praising Moran’s work as a congressman, and noting that he started in politics as an intern for her late father-in-law, U.S. Rep. Keith Sebelius.

Moran’s decision also puts the brakes on a bid by state Sen. Tim Huelskamp, a conservative Republican from Fowler, who had said he would run for Moran’s congressional seat if Moran decided to run for governor.