New lawsuit filed in dispute in Kansas Senate race

A registered Democratic voter has filed a new petition with the Kansas Supreme Court asking it to force the party to name a new nominee for the U.S. Senate.

David Orel of Kansas City, Kan., filed the petition Thursday after the court ruled that Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach had to honor Democrat Chad Taylor’s wishes to remove his name from the Nov. 4 ballot. Orel's son, Alexander Orel, works as a regional field director in the Kansas City area for Gov. Sam Brownback's re-election campaign.

Removal of Taylor’s name could help independent candidate Greg Orman’s chances of defeating three-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

Kobach said earlier Thursday that the Democratic Party is legally obligated to pick a new nominee and set a Sept. 26 deadline.

Orel’s filing came two days after his attorney sent the party a letter saying Orel wants to vote for a Democratic candidate.

This story was originally published September 18, 2014 at 7:11 PM with the headline "New lawsuit filed in dispute in Kansas Senate race."