TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A prominent Washington attorney is part of the effort to get the Democratic nominee off the ballot in the U.S. Senate race in Kansas against Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

A Topeka attorney representing Democratic candidate Chad Taylor filed a request Wednesday with the Kansas Supreme Court, asking it to allow out-of-state attorney Marc Elias to practice before the court.

Elias is a partner in a Washington law firm, and his online biography says his clients include the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. But a spokesman for the group said he is not representing it in this case.

Taylor petitioned the court Tuesday to force Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach to remove him from the ballot after Taylor ended his campaign last week.

The move potentially boosted independent candidate Greg Orman.