photo by: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

In this file photo from Nov. 1, 2014, Greg Orman talks to supporters during a senate campaign event in Topeka.

TOPEKA — Independent candidate Greg Orman on Monday submitted more than 10,000 petition signatures — more than twice the number required — to get his name on the general election ballot for Kansas governor.

Orman, 49, of Olathe, ran a close race in 2014 against incumbent U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts in a race that drew national attention and millions of dollars in outside money. That race, however, did not have a Democratic candidate, and Orman ended up with just less than 43 percent of the vote.

Orman’s running mate is state Sen. John Doll, of Garden City, a former Republican who became an independent this year when he joined the Orman campaign.

Orman is a Johnson County businessman who so far has put $650,000 of his own money into the campaign.

Political observers disagree about whether he will turn the governor’s race into a three-way contest or whether he will be a spoiler who takes votes away from the Democratic nominee.

Republicans and Democrats are choosing their nominees in primary elections Tuesday.