A conservative Republican state senator from northeast Kansas is launching an exploratory committee to consider challenging incumbent Sen. Pat Roberts in the August primary.

Sen. Dennis Pyle of Hiawatha said Friday he is asking residents to help him decide in the next 10 days if he should join Leawood radiologist Milton Wolf in challenging Roberts.

Pyle says he has heard from others concerned that Roberts has been in Washington too long and isn’t conservative enough. Roberts is seeking his fourth, six-year term.

Wolf has been endorsed by a number of tea party organizations but his campaign has struggled after revelations that he posted patient X-rays on Facebook.

Roberts has been dogged by accusations that he doesn’t spend enough time in the state.