The conservative and moderate wings of the GOP also face off todayin the Secretary of State’s primary election.

State Sen. Kay O’Connor, who once said women’s voting was a sign that society didn’t value families enough, is running against incumbent Ron Thornburgh.

The secretary of state serves as Kansas’ top election official, among other duties.

O’Connor, 63, has served in the Legislature since 1993 and as a state senator has served on the committee that deals with election issues. The Olathe woman has been a stalwart social conservative during her time in the House and Senate.

Thornburgh is seeking his third term. The 43-year-old incumbent was a protege of former Gov. Bill Graves when Graves was secretary of state. He has been in the office in some capacity since 1987.

Democratic voters also will have two candidates to choose between in the secretary of state race.

State Sen. David Haley of Kansas City, Kan., is running against Robert Beattie, a Wichita attorney who wrote a book about BTK serial killer Dennis Rader.

Beattie is a former firefighter and emergency medical technician.

Haley, 47, ran unsuccessfully against Thornburgh in the 2002 election.

Both Democrats have criticized Thornburgh for his move to consolidate voting precincts in Wyandotte and Sedgwick counties.