Republican officials in Delaware are encouraging Michele Rollins, a businesswoman and philanthropist, to run for the state’s open at-large House seat.

“She’s taking a very serious look at running for Congress,” a local Republican official said in an interview.

Rollins, a Georgetown-educated lawyer, is a former Miss USA and the widow of former Lt. Gov. John Rollins (R).

She would be in a position to devote significant personal resources to a contest in which the leading Democratic candidate, former Lt. Gov. John Carney, has been campaigning for nearly a year and had $531,000 in his campaign account at the beginning of this year.

Four Republicans already are in the House race, none of whom is particularly well-known: Fred Cullis, a businessman; Glen Urquhart, a real estate developer; Kevin Wade, a Republican activist; and Rose Izzo, a frequent candidate for political office.

Carney faces Scott Spencer, a transit consultant, for the Democratic nomination.

The seat is open because Rep. Mike Castle (R) is running for the Senate.