Thornburgh Drops Out Of Governors Race

Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh is ending his bid to be the next Kansas governor 14 months before the Republican primary.

Thornburgh announced today he was pulling out of the race. In issuing his statement, Thornburgh said “a run for governor is not meant to be.”

That leaves U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback as the leading Republican in the race. Brownback is leaving Washington after two terms in the Senate.

Thornburgh remains secretary of state through Jan. 11, 2011, and is not expected to seek another term. He was first elected secretary of state in 1994.

Democrat Gov. Mark Parkinson is filling out the second, unexpired term of Kathleen Sebelius. However, Parkinson has said he will not seek the office in 2010.