Republican Jerry Moran still is the overwhelming favorite to win re-election to his 1st District congressional seat, but it’s good that the Democratic Party has fielded an opponent in the race.

John Doll, owner of a lawn care business in Garden City, announced last week he would seek the Democratic nomination for Moran’s seat in 2006. Doll is hardly a household name in the huge 1st District, which encompasses 69 counties in western Kansas and along the northern tier of the state to within 40 miles of Missouri. And he described himself as “not 100 percent Democrat” because he is conservative and opposes abortion.

But the fact that Doll has declared his candidacy early may indicate that he plans to make a race of it. Simply having a Democrat on the ballot would give Moran more competition than he’s had in the last three elections. The last time he had a Democratic opponent was in 1998.

Moran is a popular representative and a key leader in the state’s Republican Party. He was considered a top contender to oppose Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in 2006 and, since deciding to skip that contest, seems almost a shoo-in for re-election.

Nonetheless, having an active, major-party opponent forces a candidate to actively campaign in the district and articulate stands on key issues. In what’s often called “The Big 1st” District, that will be no small chore, but the process will benefit voters by giving them a chance to get to know their candidates and their representative better.