Kraus announced his candidacy Thursday, making him the first to formally launch a challenge to Democratic Secretary of State Jason Kander.

Kraus first must win re-election this fall, but that shouldn’t be difficult, because he has no opponents.

The Lee’s Summit lawmaker has served in the Senate since 2011 and previously served for six years in the House.

Kraus may be best known for sponsoring an income tax cut that legislators enacted this year by overriding a veto by Gov. Jay Nixon.

But he also has sponsored various election-related bills, including a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize a photo identification requirement for voters. That photo ID measure did not pass this year.