HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s state House majority leader, Mike Turzai, is telling top Republican Party officials that he plans to run for the Republican nomination for a U.S. House seat that includes part of Butler County.

Turzai, of Allegheny County, would run for the 12th District seat whose suburban Pittsburgh boundaries were dramatically redrawn in December by Turzai and other top Republicans.

Its new boundaries combine portions of districts currently represented by two Democratic incumbents, Mark Critz and Jason Altmire.

Altmire represents the 4th Congressional District, which represents the southern tier of municipalities in Butler County.

Two party activists said today that Turzai is informing key people of his decision before he makes a public announcement.

The activists who spoke to The Associated Press did not want to be named talking about the subject before Turzai publicly announces his candidacy.

Asked about it by telephone today, Turzai said he was in a meeting and couldn’t talk.