Sources close to Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) say that the nine-term Congressman will run for governor in 2010 and that an official announcement is expected to come at a Friday press conference in Georgia.

Members of the Georgia’s Republican House delegation have been in talks about which of the “G-7— would jump into the race to replace Gov. Sonny Perdue (R), who is term-limited next year. Deal informed his fellow Republican Members that he was running on Monday night and during the day on Tuesday.

News of Deal’s gubernatorial plans come just days after Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R) said he was taking a pass on the governor’s race.

Deal’s spokesman on Tuesday afternoon would only go so far as to say his boss is “seriously considering a run— and intends to make his plans known later this week.

Deal’s departure doesn’t do much for Democratic chances in Georgia’s 9th district this cycle. The ruby red seat gave Sen. John McCain (R) 75 percent of the vote in 2008, and Deal, who has been unopposed in three of his past six elections, has never taken less than 58 percent of the vote.

Among the Republicans who are being mentioned as possible replacements for Deal in the 9th district are talk radio host Martha Zoller, state Reps. Tom Graves and James Mills, state Sens. Chip Pearson and Lee Hawkins, former state Sen. Bill Stevens and former Rep. Max Burns, who recently moved to the 9th district and teaches at North Georgia College.