Topeka ? A group of dissident Republican former legislators has endorsed Democrat Jean Schodorf in her campaign against Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

Schodorf had a news conference Tuesday outside the Statehouse to publicize her endorsement by Traditional Republicans for Common Sense.

Schodorf is a former moderate GOP state senator from Wichita who switched parties after losing her seat to a conservative challenger in 2012. She was among the founding members of Traditional Republicans for Common Sense but no longer belongs to it.

The group has also endorsed independent candidate Greg Orman for U.S. Senate, and many of its members back Democrat Paul Davis for governor.

Kobach said the group’s move isn’t surprising and said it is as little a Republican group as he is a Democrat.