Topeka ? The Kansas Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican Sam Brownback for governor.

Brownback, who’s currently a U.S. senator, said in a statement Friday he’s pleased to have the backing of the state’s largest business group.

Brownback’s Democratic opponent, state Sen. Tom Holland, says the chamber is an extremist lobbying group that favors cutting education funding. Holland had said in June he would neither seek nor accept its endorsement.

The chamber opposed legislation this year increasing the state’s 5.3 percent sales tax to 6.3 percent, arguing it would hurt the economy. Holland and other Democrats said the increase was needed to prevent severe cuts in public school funding.