Hey, guess what? Lots of Republicans are suddenly thinking about running for Congress. It’s as if something happened early this week to persuade them that they may never get a better chance to win than this year.

In Massachusetts, former two-term state treasurer Joe Malone is “seriously considering” running against Rep. William Delahunt.

In North Dakota, “Fargo Rep. Rick Berg announced Tuesday he’d be running for Congress — a move that had him running around the state as he announced his candidacy in four towns.” This is Earl Pomeroy’s seat, and rumors of a retirement announcement continue to gurgle through Washington.

In Ohio, “Warren County commissioner Mike Kilburn will challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Miami Twp. for seat in the May Republican primary.”

In Tennessee: “Franklin businessman and former congressional staffer Jack Bailey has announced he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis this year.”

I mentioned Richard Hanna’s bid yesterday. Elsewhere in New York, “Queensbury Supervisor Dan Stec said Wednesday he is exploring a run for Congress against incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, in November. Stec, a Republican, said he will spend February meeting with county chairmen and other prominent Republicans in the 20th Congressional District to discuss the race.”

And not far from me in Virginia, a much-discussed campaign was made official recently: “Formally announcing what he acknowledged was ‘one of the worst-kept secrets of all time,’ Springfield District Supervisor Patrick S. Herrity (R) announced Jan. 13 that he is running for Congress.”

Meanwhile, a Tennessee Democrat concludes this just isn’t the right year to run.