LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State regulators have found the Nebraska Republican Party and a political consulting firm liable for making illegal robocalls in a hotly contested legislative race.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission issued the ruling against the state party and Kansas City-based Remington Research. The calls were made to help state Sen. Julie Slama, of Peru, who is locked in an unusually bitter race against challenger Janet Palmtag.

Slama and Palmtag are both Republicans, and have each won key endorsements. Slama is backed by Gov. Pete Ricketts, who appointed her, while Palmtag has been endorsed by former Gov. Dave Heineman.

 A press release from the Janet Palmtag for Legislature campaign said the Public Service Commission’s action Tuesday was one of the largest fines the state has placed on automatic dialers.

Violations alleged included that the Nebraska Republican Party and its consultant Remington did not identify their phone number, web address or mailing address of the person calling, there was no script filed within 24 hours and the Nebraska Republican Party did not have a permit to operate robocalls within the state.

The press release says Palmtag has been spending thousands of dollars trying to correct misleading and false information.