Virginia Rep. Tom Perriello has drawn a 2010 challenge from state Sen. Robert Hurt, the latest and highest-profile opponent to the first-term Democrat.

Hurt said Wednesday that he filed candidacy paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to prepare a challenge to Perriello, who upset Republican Rep. Virgil Goode in the 2008 election.

The National Republican Congressional Committee circulated Hurt’s announcement press release to reporters, a sign that the campaign arm of House Republicans prefers Hurt as its candidate in a conservative-leaning district it hopes to wrest from Democratic control.