A central Kansas lawyer who served several decades ago in the state Legislature as a Democrat is now considering challenging Congressman Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary.

Ellinwood attorney Kent Roth announced Monday that he’s formed a committee to explore a run for the GOP nomination in the 1st Congressional District of western and central Kansas.

Huelskamp has held the seat for the strongly Republican district since 2011 and had no opposition to his re-election in 2012.

The 61-year-old Roth was in law school when he was elected to the Kansas House in 1976, and he served six years in the Legislature.

A Democrat also has filed for the seat. He is Bryan Whitney, a Wichita State University political science student who graduated from high school in Syracuse.