The 10th District Congressman, considered to be one of the safer Democrats occupying conservative seats, got his first challenger Friday when Iraq war veteran Christopher Bain announced his candidacy, The Sun-Gazette reports. At a anti-tax Tea Party, the Purple Heart winner said he would be an advocate for veterans.

“I want to fight for our vets. I also want to fight for you,” Bain told the crowd.

Doug Pike, a former editorial board member at The Philadelphia Inquirer, is the only Democrat to officially declare his candidacy for the seat, which includes areas of Chester, Montgomery and Berks counties. But at least three others are considering the race, including two who have challenged Gerlach before. The district has consistently been one of the most competitive in the state. And while Democrats think they can win even if Gerlach stays put, most analysts consider the seat a lock to switch parties if he pursues the governorship instead.

“He’s had a tenuous hold on it,” said G. Terry Madonna, a pollster and political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College. “Somehow, he’s found a way to win. I think it gives the Democrats a huge opening should he actually run [for governor].”

Democrats said to be considering the race include Dan Wofford, the son of former Senator Harris Wofford who ran against Gerlach in 2002; Bob Roggio, the Montgomery County businessman who narrowly lost to Gerlach last year; and state Senator Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester), the first Democrat to be elected in his district since the 19th Century. All three remain cautious about entering the race—and curious to see what Gerlach does.

“I think the seat remains very winnable, whether or not Jim Gerlach vacates it to run for governor,” said Wofford, who lost by less than 3 points in 2002. “I think he’s vulnerable, and the demographics of the district are more favorable than they were when I first ran.”

The district has become far more Democratic in recent years. Whereas Republicans outnumbered Democrats by about 30,000 votes in 2005, by earlier this year, Democrats held an edge of more than 20,000 votes. These margins have kept Gerlach from ever winning by more than about 4 points; he won by less than 1 1/2 points to against Lois Murphy in 2006. But even as it has grown more Democratic in recent years, Gerlach has managed to defend the district thanks to his long service as a state lawmaker in the area and to the reputation he has built, deserved or not, as a moderate Republican. In a recent interview with pa2010.com, Gerlach said he would win again if he sought reelection.

“They’ve spent over $15 million to beat me,” he said of local and national Democrats. “They haven’t done it, and they’re not going to do it.

“My voting record reflects what people in this district want from their representative in Washington,” he added.

In announcing his candidacy, Pike said Gerlach’s moderate image is a facade.

“Particularly at this time of economic crisis, I feel that he is a typical partisan Republican. a just-say-no Republican, not someone offering practical solutions to get us out of this economic crisis,” Pike said.

Wofford, who has been encouraged by friends and political supporters to run, would not comment specifically on whether he was actively considering it, but his name continues to be mentioned by party insiders. Dinniman, whose 19th Senatorial District includes West Chester, said he was focused for now on education reform in Harrisburg and would begin to think more seriously about the race later this year. Roggio said he was more likely to run if Gerlach didn’t, but was considering either possibility.

“I think the Democrats would have an excellent chance in 2010,” Roggio said.

Chris Casey, the brother of Senator Bob Casey, is also rumored to be considering the race, but could not be reached for comment. State Representative Curt Schroeder (R-Chester) has expressed interest in seeking the GOP nomination if Gerlach runs for governor.