Records from the Kansas attorney general’s office show taxpayers spent more than $34,000 in legal fees for the secretary of state’s failed effort to force Kansas Democrats to field a candidate for U.S. Senate.

Secretary of State Kris Kobach told The Wichita Eagle that’s not a lot of money, in litigation terms.

The state paid Wichita-based Hinkle Law Firm $34,627 to defend Kobach against a lawsuit brought by Democrat Chad Taylor, who withdrew from the Senate race.

The Kansas Supreme Court rejected Kobach’s argument that Taylor should remain on the ballot because he did not declare himself incapable of serving, if elected.

The state also retained Hinkle when it tried to intervene in a lawsuit to force the Democratic Party to name a replacement candidate, which also failed.