WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A state senator from southern Kansas says school district superintendents are working to defeat incumbent Republican conservative lawmakers in this year’s elections.

Sen. Forrest Knox, a Republican from Altoona, made that allegation in an email to supporters last week and in an interview with The Wichita Eagle.

Knox says he sees signs for his opponents at the homes across the state belonging to people connected to the state’s schools. He suggested some superintendents are intimidating teachers into supporting his opponents.

Cory Gibson, president of the Kansas School Superintendents Association, says the organization doesn’t ever make endorsements in legislative races. He says school employees are free to campaign for a candidate on their own time but many superintendents don’t because they have to work with whoever wins the election.