HARRISBURG (KDKA) – Former United States Representative Melissa Hart, a McCandless Republican, is running for governor of Pennsylvania next year.

In her first TV interview on the matter, Hart told KDKA political editor Jon Delano on Monday that she brings the right kind of experience to the office.

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There are 12 declared candidates for the Republican nomination for governor – all men.

Now Melissa Hart wants to break the men’s club and do what no woman has ever done: become governor of Pennsylvania.

She is not afraid of the battle to come.

“Women are not or tend not to be as combative or as comfortable with the combative atmosphere that our politics today, unfortunately, has alienated from some people, who are very good people.” , Hart said. “And because I’ve been tested before, I’ve been through it before, maybe I’m less hesitant to get into the fray.”

For ten years, Hart represented the North Hills in the State Senate in Harrisburg, then served another six years in Congress. She says her combined experience, coupled with her last 14 years in the private sector, makes her a winner.

“I believe I bring a perspective that is more directly oriented towards what government should be doing for the people, and I won’t be overwhelmed by the things that are the people who are currently serving,” Hart said.

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Hart, a lawyer, says his work at a small local law firm gives him a much better perspective on the impact of government on individuals and small businesses.

“I learned a lot by working again for family businesses, for people that I represent as well, and I did a lot of different types of law because that’s what you do when you’re in a small firm. lawyers, “says Hart.” You understand people’s problems from all angles. “

The best-known Republican candidates so far have come from the East, such as former US Representative Lou Barletta from Hazelton, Senate Speaker Jake Corman from Center County and former US Attorney Bill McSwain from suburb of Philadelphia.

Hart’s roots in western Pennsylvania might help.

“Sometimes we feel like, oh I don’t know, like we’re not treated so well in the west. I sometimes think that’s true because there is a larger population in the east. But I hope western Pennsylvania will be, as you describe, certainly, I would take any advantage I could get.

On the issues, Hart’s views are generally consistent with most Republicans as pro-life and pro-Second Amendment.

But Hart believes Harrisburg has grown too controversial in recent years.

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Hart will make an official candidacy announcement in January.