Curt Schroder

Republican Curt Schroder , a veteran member of the Pennsylvania state House, is making preparations to run for the 6th District U.S. House seat that Republican Rep. Jim Gerlach is expected to leave open to run for governor.

Schroder organized a campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission that will allow him to raise money for a campaign in the 6th, an area of southeastern Pennsylvania near Philadelphia that has been trending Democratic of late.  

Schroder, who couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday, was first elected in 1994 from a legislative district in Chester County, which is one of four counties from which the 6th claims territory. The Democrats haven’t fielded a candidate against Schroder in any of his seven re-election campaigns.