TOPEKA, Kan., April 15 (UPI) -- Attorney General Carla Stovall announced Monday she is dropping out of the Republican primary race for governor, ending a week of speculation.
Stovall, who was the sole moderate Republican candidate for governor, said she didn't have the passion to campaign nor the commitment to serve.
"As the weeks and months progressed I realized that I simply could not stay the course no matter how hard I tried," Stovall told reporters and supporters at a news conference outside her office across from the Capitol.
"I could not muster the passion to run statewide for a third time nor could I envision pleasure in service as governor," the attorney general said. "I discovered the correct decision in September was absolutely the wrong personal choice for me."
Stovall said she had developed a "significant and serious relationship with Larry Steckline," but that had nothing to do with her decision. Steckline is owner of Wichita, Kan.-based Mid America Ag News Network.
Stovall, 45, urged House Speaker Kent Glasscock to enter the governor's race and endorsed him. Glasscock was unavailable for comment Monday.
"He has had the passion to run for and be governor for years now and he would absolutely be the best choice Kansas could make," she said. "His legislative and business experience gives him the credentials that are so necessary to serve as governor in the very difficult times ahead."
In November, Stovall announced she would run for governor and Glasscock stepped aside, agreeing to run as her lieutenant governor.
Already in the race for the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Bill Graves are State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger, considered the conservative candidate, and Wichita Mayor Bob Knight. Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius is the only announced Democratic candidate.
Graves is barred by term limits from seeking a third, four-year term.
"While we are sorry to learn that Carla Stovall has withdrawn from the campaign for governor, the Republican Party is fortunate to have a field of strong candidates remaining," said Kansas Republican Chairman Mark Parkinson.
Parkinson described the race for governor as "wide open" and said he was "optimistic that our primary winner will win the governor's race in November."
Tom Sawyer, chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party, dismissed Stovall's announcement and said the Republican Party was in disarray.
"It doesn't matter what Carla Stovall does, or what any Republicans do in the primary," Sawyer said. "Democrats are united behind Kathleen Sebelius and she is far and away the best candidate for governor."
Sawyer added: "The Republican primary is starting to look the same way the Republicans have run state government. Everything is in disarray."
