U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart, Bradford Woods, R-4th District, kicked off her first re-election campaign Tuesday with a four-stop tour through the district.

The district -- which has included all of Lawrence and Beaver counties and parts of Allegheny, Butler and Westmoreland counties -- was redrawn last year to include Farrell, Wheatland, West Middlesex, Shenango Township and part of Hermitage in southwest Mercer County.

The Mercer County portion includes about 13,000 registered voters, about three-quarters of them Democrats.

Ms. Hart's campaign tour included a stop at AG Central in Wilmington Township, Lawrence County. The freshman congresswoman said she has developed a successful working relationship with leaders in heavily Democratic Lawrence County and is eager to begin building ties with Mercer County officials.

Ms. Hart is facing a challenge by Beaver County Democrat Steve Drobak Jr., said a staffer for the congresswoman.

Republican Mercer County Commissioners Cloyd E. "Gene" Brenneman and Kenneth Seamans, both on hand Tuesday, did not hesitate to throw their support behind Ms. Hart. "We will work just as hard for her in Mercer County," Seamans said.

Ms. Hart said she is excited to begin working for Mercer County. "The changes to the district were not that significant. Only a small portion of Mercer County was placed into the district, but it is an important part. They are facing important issues there," she said, citing revitalization and development efforts.

Ms. Hart serves on the Financial Services, Judiciary and Science committees and is vice chairwoman of the Constitution and Energy subcommittees.

State Sen. Robert D. "Bob" Robbins of Salem Township, also on hand Tuesday, has worked alongside Ms. Hart and said she is a talented leader and hard worker. Both began serving in the state Senate a dozen years ago.

"In the coming weeks, I will be announcing the first wave of bills in my economic security package, which will include proposals tailor-made to help our region access more federal funding and support creation and retention of local jobs," Ms. Hart said.