TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The campaign treasurer for independent candidate Greg Orman has resigned to endorse Democrat Laura Kelly in the Kansas governor’s race.

Tim Owens, a former Republican state senator from Overland Park, resigned Tuesday, effective immediately. In a news release issued by Kelly’s campaign, Owens said it was time to unite behind Kelly and stop GOP candidate Kris Kobach.

Kelly and Kobach are locked in a tight race with Orman a distant third in recent polling.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Owen said he has supported Orman’s political ambitions for several years. He said he resigned because he believes electing Kobach would be one of the worst things that could happen to the state.

Orman said he accepted Owens’ resignation but he did not intend to leave the race.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly has raised $900,000 more than Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach since the end of July in the tight governor’s race.

New campaign finance reports filed Monday show that Kelly has raised $2.3 million, Kobach $1.3 million and Independent Greg Orman $805,000 over that period. In the final weeks of the campaign, Kelly has half a million available to spend, compared to $61,000 for Kobach and less than $15,000 for Orman.

Kobach, who is nationally known for advocating tough immigration and voter identification policies, enjoys the support of President Donald Trump. But Kelly said in a statement that her advantage is “enthusiasm.” She says Kansans of “all political stripes have a home in our campaign to rebuild our state.”