Six Republicans are on course to challenge Democrat U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell in the fall. Three GOP candidates already have announced their intent to run for the nomination, and two others plan to make formal announcements within a week.

Another is likely to enter the race as early as next month.

Arizona Corporation Commissioner Jeff Hatch-Miller told the Tribune on Wednesday that he will formally announce his intent to run on Friday.

State Rep. Mark Anderson said he will make a major announcement concerning his political career on Wednesday.

Former Scottsdale City Councilwoman Susan Bitter Smith said she is evaluating the race and may enter sometime in February or later.

They join three others who already are in the race — former state Rep. Laura Knaperek, former lobbyist Jim Ogsbury, and former Maricopa County treasurer Dave Schweikert.

Mitchell, a freshmen who unseated Republican J.D. Hayworth in 2006, was traveling Wednesday and unavailable to comment about the Who’s Who contingent of opponents assembling against him.

“I am a candidate for Congress,” Hatch-Miller said. “I seek to represent Congressional District 5 in the U.S. House of Representatives.”

He has opened a campaign bank account and was in the process of filling out needed Federal Election Commission forms for submittal today.

“I don’t think a lot about the other candidates. I’m running because there are some issues that aren’t being represented, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. Those issues include energy, matters concerning the elderly, the economy and gridlock in Congress.

“I want to step up to the plate and do something about it and so as I look around to the other people that are running, I’m not really thinking about them as much as the job to get done. Obviously, I think I’m the best person to do that,” said Hatch-Miller, who also served in the state House.

At least for the moment, he plans to retain his seat on the Corporation Commission throughout his campaign.

Anderson must wait until next week to formally announce his intention to run for Congress to remain in compliance with the state’s resign-to-run law.

A crowded GOP race could be beneficial because it offers the opportunity to change the tone of politics, he said.

“We can show people how Republicans can run a clean campaign. We’re going to focus on the positives and each get our messages out there, show people that you don’t have to be negative and tear people down to run a campaign,” said Anderson, who represents Mesa in the state Legislature.

“That way, at the end of the day, whoever does win will have a much better chance in the general. I think the voters are ready for a fresh approach, instead of trying to find negatives and make the other person look bad. People are so tired of that,” he said.

Bitter Smith is taking a serious look at joining the race.

“I think it’s still a tad bit early to make a final decision, given what we know about the district. But I’ve certainly seen in the last week or so in the primaries and caucuses that voters across the country are saying they’re looking for a change from the Democratic Congress,” she said.

If she notes the same trend in Arizona during the presidential preference election on Feb. 5, she may want to enter the Congressional race, she said.

District 5 takes in Scottsdale, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Ahwatukee Foothills and part of Mesa.