OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Former Kansas Secretary of Commerce Antonio Soave (SWAH-vay) says he is running for Congress next year.

The Kansas City Star reports Soave announced Thursday that he would seek the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District of eastern Kansas. Republican Lynn Jenkins is not seeking re-election.

Soave was GOP Gov. Sam Brownback's commerce secretary from December 2015 until June. He currently is executive director of a nonprofit youth mentoring initiative.

State Sens. Steve Fitzgerald of Leavenworth and Caryn Tyson of Parker, and Basehor City Council member Vernon...