TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state court judge has ruled that Kansas law bars out-of-state residents from running for governor even if there's not a specific prohibition.

Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson ruled Thursday in lawsuit filed by Attorney General Derek Schmidt. Schmidt sued Secretary of State Kris Kobach to obtain a declaration that Kobach's office cannot allow non-Kansans to file for governor.

Kansas law doesn't explicitly ban out-of-state residents from running for governor if they pay the full filing fee of $2,207 instead of gathering signatures from registered voters. Watson said that's likely an oversight and other statutes presume candidates will live in the state.

New Yorker Andy Maskin filed for the Republican nomination for governor earlier this month, saying he would move if elected.

The state's candidate filing deadline is Friday.