Topeka ? Shawnee County’s top elections official has formally filed her candidacy for the Republican nomination to be the next Kansas secretary of state.

Elizabeth Libby Ensley, election commissioner for Shawnee County, on Monday filed to run for the Republican Party nomination as Kansas secretary of state.

Elizabeth Ensley signed the paperwork and launched her bid Monday outside the secretary of state’s office. She has been the elections commissioner in Shawnee County for more than 18 years.

The filing deadline is Thursday, with the primary scheduled Aug. 3.

Also seeking the GOP nomination are former Kansas Republican Party Chairman Kris Kobach of Piper, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor, and J.R. Claeys of Salina, a former CEO of the National Association of Government Contractors.

Democratic incumbent Chris Biggs is seeking a full term and faces state Sen. Chris Steineger of Kansas City in that party’s primary.