Former state Senate Majority Leader Rusty Bowers (R), who has been considering a run against freshman Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D) in the 1st district, filed federal paperwork to organize a Bowers for Congress campaign committee on Friday.

Bowers, who served in the state House before moving over to the state Senate, left the state Legislature in 2001 to work as a lobbyist for the Arizona Rock Products Association.

Kirkpatrick was elected last year in the wake of former Rep. Rick Renzi’s (R) indictment in an alleged extortion scheme. She outspent anti-tax activist Sydney Hay by more than $1.3 million in that race and won by 17 points.

Sen. John McCain (R) carried the district by 10 points in the presidential contest.