The once-crowded field of Republican candidates for Kansas governor is quickly narrowing.
Mark Hutton is the latest to end his campaign for the GOP nomination.
In a brief statement, he gave no specific reason for his exit but said he hoped to serve Kansas in some “small way” in the future.
A former legislator, Hutton was among the first conservative Republicans to question the wisdom of former Gov. Sam Brownback’s income tax cuts.
Hutton is the second prominent Wichita businessman to drop out. Oil executive Wink Hartman ended his campaign last month and endorsed Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
Early polls show Kobach and Gov. Jeff Colyer leading with former state Sen. Jim Barnett running a distant third.
Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer is also competing for the nomination.
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Jim McLean is managing director of KMUW's Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio and KCUR covering health, education and politics in Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
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