Several Republican former Kansas officials have endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Paul Davis over GOP incumbent Gov. Sam Brownback.

Republicans for Kansas Values, a group of more than 100 former lawmakers and GOP officials, including two former lieutenant governors and a former congresswoman, announced their support for Davis on Tuesday.

“All of us are proud Republicans. We came together because of our common love of Kansas, our commitment to Kansas families, and our belief in moderate, commonsense leadership,” former state Sen. Wint Winter said in a statement for the group. “We are deeply concerned by the direction Sam Brownback is taking Kansas. Today we announce our opposition to his re-election.”

Before the Tuesday endorsement and a recent poll showing him ahead of the GOP governor, Davis was a long-shot candidate for governor in a red state.

The group criticized the governor’s support for tax cuts and reduced funding for public schools. Republicans may also be turning against the governor over his efforts in 2012 to rid the state legislature of moderate Republicans in favor of more conservative challengers.

While Kansas is a conservative state, voters there have elected Democratic governors in the past. Kathleen Sebelius served as governor for two terms before Brownback took office.