WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man who filed a brief asking the Kansas Supreme Court to keep Democrat Chad Taylor on the ballot in the U.S. Senate race is the father of a staffer for Gov. Sam Brownback.

David Orel, of Kansas City, Kansas, on Monday filed a brief with court opposing Taylor’s efforts to withdraw from the race against Sen. Pat Roberts. He argued that Taylor’s withdraw would deprive Orel, a Democrat, of the right to vote for his preferred candidate.

The Wichita Eagle reports Orel’s son, Alexander Orel, is regional field director in the Kansas City area for Brownback’s re-election campaign.

The state Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on a petition Taylor filed after Secretary of State Kris Kobach refused to remove Taylor’s name from the ballot.