Republican Melissa Hart is planning a comeback bid to regain the congressional seat she lost to upstart Democrat Jason Altmire, according to sources with whom the former congresswoman has spoken.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because she has not yet issued an announcement, said Ms. Hart, of Bradford Woods, made a final decision earlier this month after former Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann agreed not to seek the post.

Ms. Hart has notified the Republican National Congressional Committee of her decision.

She lost her bid for a fourth term representing the 4th Congressional District, which encompasses portions of counties north and west of Pittsburgh, during last year's midterm elections that saw several Republican incumbents swept from office amid growing voter disillusion with the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq War.

First Published: July 14, 2007, 12:45 a.m.