Exactly a week after votes started being tallied, Kansas Republicans at last know whose name will be at the top of the ballot this November.

On Tuesday night, Gov. Jeff Colyer conceded the hotly-contested race for the GOP nomination for governor. All day, the incumbent slowly fell further and further behind Sec. of State Kris Kobach as the final votes were tallied in each county.

“It has been an honor to serve as the Lt. Governor and meet so many Kansans across this great state,” said Lt. Governor Tracey Mann. “Governor Colyer and I are committed to supporting the Republican nominee for governor and helping him win in November.”

Kobach will now look toward the general election where he will face Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly, of Topeka, Libertarian Jeff Caldwell, and independent Rick Kloos. One-time senatorial candidate Greg Orman is expected to appear on the ballot as an independent as well.

"He was incredibly gracious, and that meant a lot after such a hard-fought campaign," Kobach said. "I want to thank Gov. Jeff Colyer for a race well run. He was a worthy opponent, and I thank him sincerely for his service to the state of Kansas."

"I will work hard to advance our shared values, and I look forward to working with Governor Colyer and all Republicans to keep Kansas red in November," Kobach continued.

Colyer, a 58-year-old plastic surgeon from suburban Kansas City, served as lieutenant governor for seven years and took over as governor in January when Sam Brownback resigned to become ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

"There is only one thing to say on an occasion such as this, and that is 'Thank you'," said Gov. Colyer in his concession speech, "I am very proud of the work we have done in the past six months and of the hopeful optimistic message we shared in this campaign."

After Johnson Co., the state's largest county, released its count Tuesday evening, Kobach held a 345 vote lead - out of more than 315,000 cast.

That was a slight increase from earlier in the day, when the state's second largest county, Sedgwick County, released its numbers and put Kobach ahead of the sitting governor by just 298 votes.

Kobach has been narrowly ahead since the Aug. 7 election.