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Kyl expected to run for whip post |
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By Jackie Kucinich
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Posted: 11/26/07 12:14 PM [ET] |
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Senate GOP conference Chairman Jon Kyl (Ariz.) will run to replace Sen. Trent Lott (Miss.) as Senate minority whip, according to a source close to Kyl.
Lott's Monday announcement of his retirement has set off a reshuffling of the Senate Republican leadership.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) has been mentioned as a possible Kyl challenger by knowledgeable sources, who say he began making calls Sunday to his colleagues. Alexander spokesman Lee Pitts said the senator is "looking at all his options," including the whip and conference positions as well as the possibility of not running at all.
Alexander unsuccessfully ran against Lott for the whip post after the 2006 election.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has also been floated as a possible Lott successor.
Kyl’s decision opens up the No. 3 position in Republican leadership, which would spark a race to replace him should he become whip.
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) will run for the conference chairmanship according to a source close to the senator. Sen. John Cornyn's (R-Texas) office confirmed that Cornyn, who is currently Senate policy vice chairman, intends to run for policy chair if Hutchison seeks the conference chair position.
Separately, a source close to Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) confirmed that he would run for the
conference position.
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