TOPEKA (AP) – Conservatives are attacking moderate Republicans’ major stronghold in Kansas government, hoping the 2012 state Senate elections will remove the last major obstacles to Governor Sam Brownback’s policy goals.

Brownback and his fellow GOP conservatives were swept into office in 2010 in a tide that washed over state politics. But it missed the state Senate, where only two seats were on the ballot in special elections.

Anti-tax, small-government legislators and political activists have been frustrated by the wariness of Senate Republican leaders toward the governor’s agenda.

All 40 Senate seats are on the ballot this year, and conservative GOP challengers have emerged in at least nine districts held by moderate Republicans.

Brownback says he won’t get involved, but groups that backed him are preparing to jump in.