Bryan Sears of Patch

Nancy Jacobs, a Harford County Republican, announced Monday that she’s formed an exploratory committee to examine a challenge to Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger.

Jacobs, a four-term state senator, is the second Republican to consider challenging Ruppersberger, a Democrat, for the 2nd District seat he has held since 2002.

The district, as redrawn for the 2012 elections, stretches from southern Harford County through southeast Baltimore County and northern Anne Arundel County to Fort George G. Meade. A portion of the district also wraps around I-695 to northwestern Baltimore County.

Last month, Larry Smith, a Cockeysville resident and aide to Republican freshman Rep. Andy Harris, announced he would seek the Republican nomination to challenge Ruppersberger, a former two-term Baltimore County executive.

The announcement by Jacobs allows her to raise some money and conduct other activities not considered to be actual campaigning without formally filing as a candidate. She must file as a candidate once she begins to conduct campaign activities or raise or spend more than $5,000.