(KNZA)--Kansas Senator Dennis Pyle will be challenged in his bid for re-election to another 4-year term.  

According to the Kansas Secretary of State's Office, Kirk Miller, of Havensville, filed Friday as a Democratic candidate for the 1st District Kansas Senate seat.

Pyle, a rural Hiawatha Republican, has held the seat since 2005.  Prior to that, he was a Kansas Representative for the 49th District from 2001-2002.  

The 1st District includes Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson and Nemaha Counties along with portions of Marshall and Pottawatomie Counties.

Pyle filed for re-election last month.  Monday was the filing deadline.  

The primary election will be held August 4 and the general election is November 3.