As Republicans set their sights on making gains in the November elections, former Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) is readying herself for a second act on Capitol Hill.

Pryce, who retired from Congress in 2009, has entered into a strategic partnership with the all-Republican boutique lobby shop Clark, Lytle & Geduldig.

“It’s hard to give it up cold turkey,” Pryce said of Capitol Hill.

The one-time chairwoman of the House Republican Conference has high expectations for her former GOP colleagues to gain control of the chamber in the midterms.

“I’ve been watching those of my friends who are poised to become committee chairmen and have some very significant policy influence in this country,” she said. “I just want to be there.”

Firm founder Steve Clark said he and the shop’s other lobbyists want to maximize Pryce’s GOP ties.

“Our strategic partnership will add even more value to the relationships and experience our firm already offers,” Clark said in an e-mail. “We are pleased to be working with such a good friend.”

Clark, Lytle & Geduldig’s decision to affiliate with Pryce comes as firms and trade associations have been looking to add more Republicans to their rosters, with an eye toward the November elections. Most recently, the Democratic-leaning Glover Park Group brought on Alex Mistri. The former legislative affairs assistant for President George W. Bush joined Glover this month after serving as a strategic analyst and economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Pryce’s affiliation with Clark, Lytle & Geduldig isn’t her only private-sector enterprise. She joined the Ohio-based firm SZD Whiteboard in March as a senior public policy adviser. But this will be her first return to Washington, D.C., for consulting work. She expects to split her time between Ohio and Washington.

The one-time Deputy Republican Whip said she plans to register to lobby.

Pryce’s Congressional résumé also includes a stint on the Financial Services Committee, where she was ranking member on the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government-Sponsored Enterprises.

Clark, Lytle & Geduldig has focused primarily on financial services lobbying. The firm’s roster of clients includes the Consumer Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association and MasterCard Worldwide. The firm reported bringing in nearly $900,000 during the first half of 2010, according to Senate lobbying disclosure records.

Pryce and her new colleagues say she will help the shop expand beyond financial services work.

The affiliation came together over the past couple of weeks, and the principals recently began pitching clients together.

So far, they have stressed Pryce’s relationships with House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio); Rep. Dave Camp (Mich.), ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee; and Senate candidates she served with in the House, including Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

In addition, like Pryce, the firm has strong Ohio ties.

Clark is a native of Ohio, and partner Sam Geduldig worked as an aide to Boehner and former Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio).

Pryce said she expects to build on the firm’s financial services background but also to work in the health care and energy arenas.

“I can represent clients that have both Ohio and federal [needs],” Pryce said. “I don’t think we’re going to limit ourselves.”