Christie Vilsack has been holding meetings with strategists to decide whether to run for the House, and last week the Democrat took unpaid leave from her position at a nonprofit to avoid mingling political activity with the organization, the Des Moines Register reported.

Vilsack is married to Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. Late last year she signaled interest in running for the House even though Iowa will lose one seat because of reapportionment and the incumbents say they will seek re-election.

The Register reported that Vilsack held “private meetings with senior aides to the campaigns of her husband” and “sought input from party activists” across the state. The leave is voluntary, and she told board members, “She remains board chairwoman and would be free to resume the directorship should she abandon a political path,” the Register reported.

Among the operatives Vilsack has met with are Teresa Vilmain, who worked for Hillary Rodham Clinton, and John Lapp, her husband’s 2002 campaign manager.