State Sen. Andrew Brock, R-34, on Monday announced he would run for Congress under newly draw maps.

If recently drawn congressional maps are approved by a federal court, Brock said he would run for the 13th District seat. Under the new maps, the 13th Congressional District includes parts of Rowan, Iredell and Guilford counties. It includes all of Davie and Davidson counties.

He’s the first candidate to publicly declare his intentions to seek the new 13th District seat. State Rep. Harry Warren, R-77, was also rumored to be interested in running for Congress. Warren, however, said he’s “not seriously considering it right now.”

Brock likely won’t face incumbent 13th District Rep. George Holding, who lives near Raleigh. In a recent redrawing, Holding’s district was shifted from eastern North Carolina to the Piedmont. Holding says plans to run in the 2nd Congressional District, which is closer to his residence.

Brock currently represents much of Rowan, a part of Iredell and all of Davie County in the N.C. Senate. Brock said he was surprised last week at his familiarity with many of the communities in the 13th Congressional District.

Brock said he’s been interested in running for Congress previously, but always been satisfied with the representation. Rep. Virginia Foxx currently represents the 5th Congressional District, which covers Brock’s residence in Mocksville. Before Foxx, current U.S. Sen. Richard Burr represented the 5th District.

A seven-term Republican state senator, Brock said he hopes to bring “common sense reform” to federal politics, work to defend Christian values, balance the budget and fight terrorists.

When asked Monday about his interest in Congress, he touted recent Republican reforms in Raleigh.

“We were working as hard as anybody to turn the state around in the years after the recession,” he said. “What got us there in a lot of ways was our policies. We’ve been able to make some significant changes in Raleigh — tax reform, regulatory reform and property rights.”

Brock said he was looking forward to running against incumbent Rep. Alma Adams, a Greensboro Democrat, for the 13th District. Under the newly drawn maps, Adams lives in the 13th. However, she’s announced intentions to seek re-election to the 12th Congressional District, which has been moved to Mecklenburg County.

Brock is already seeking re-election to the 34th N.C. Senate District. However, legislation passed last week would allow Brock, or any state legislator, to continue with a re-election effort and start a congressional campaign. Brock is running unopposed in the 34th State Senate District race. If he advances through the 34th N.C. Senate District and the 13th Congressional District races, Brock would need to pick one for the general election.

If he wins the 13th Congressional District seat, Brock said the Rowan, Davie and Iredell Republican parties would nominate a candidate to replace him.

Before Brock runs for the newly drawn 13th District, federal judges must approve the newly drawn maps, which were required after judges declared the 12th and 1st congressional districts racially gerrymandered.

Brock said Democrats and liberal-leaning groups will likely challenge the recently drawn maps. A judge could order entirely new districts be drawn, he said.

“It’s almost like I’m counting my lottery winnings before I win the lottery,” Brock joked.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.