TOPEKA ? Kansas Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt announced he will not run for governor next year.

The Republican from Independence said with two daughters younger than 2-years-old, he didn’t want to make the time commitment needed for a statewide campaign.

“The full focus of my public service will now remain on providing leadership in the Senate as we work on the issues that will shape the future of our state for generations to come,” Schmidt said.

So far, announced candidates for the Republican Party nomination include House Speaker Doug Mays of Topeka, and former House Speaker Robin Jennison of Healy.

Others who have filed for the Republican campaign are two frequent political candidates, lawyer Dennis Hawver, of Ozawkie, and Richard Rodewald, of Lawrence.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, is expected to run for re-election.

In another development, state Sen. Dennis Wilson, R-Overland Park, has said he will not seek his party’s nomination to run for the 3rd Congressional District, which is currently held by U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat from Lenexa. The district includes east Lawrence.