Rep. Lou Barletta Louis (Lou) James BarlettaBottom Line Ex-GOP congressman to lead group to protect Italian products from tariffs Head of Pennsylvania GOP resigns over alleged explicit texts MORE (R-Pa.) has reportedly started to tell members of the Republican Party that he will challenge Sen. Bob Casey Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseySecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GAO report finds brokers offered false info on coverage for pre-existing conditions Catholic group launches .7M campaign against Biden targeting swing-state voters MORE Jr. (D-Pa.) in the 2018 midterm election.

The Associated Press reported Monday that Barletta will officially announce his intention to run within a few weeks.

The AP in May reported that President Trump had been pushing Barletta, an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration, to enter the race.

ADVERTISEMENT

Barletta, who has served in the House since 2011, announced his support for Trump in the Republican primaries in March of last year.

Barletta served on Trump's transition team and was was floated as a potential candidate for secretary of Transportation or Labor. He currently sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

Barletta would run against at least Jim Christiana and Rick Saccone, both Pennsylvania Republican state representatives, in the primary for Casey's seat.

Casey won reelection easily in 2012, taking 53.7 percent of the vote to his Republican challenger's 44.6 percent.

—Melanie Zanona contributed.