Former Rep. Melissa Hart (R-Pa.) may be running for office again. But if she wins, don’t expect to see her on Capitol Hill.

Hart is the presumed frontrunner in an expected special election for a state Senate seat, according to a Wednesday report on PoliticsPA.com. Before serving the 4th district for three terms, Hart had spent a decade as a state legislator.

“Several sources … [said] that if Hart wants the seat, the field will clear for her,” PoliticsPA wrote.
It’s far too early to guess whether the move back to politics could lead to another Congressional run in 2012. Hart lost the 4th district seat in 2006 to Rep. Jason Altmire (D), who is among the GOP’s top targets this cycle. He could face a primary challenge and barely won re-election last year in the Republican-leaning district.