Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) is poised to become minority whip as other senators scramble for position in lower-tier leadership races.

Kyl’s anticipated ascent to become Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) top deputy has triggered a leadership shuffle, with several senators formally announcing their bids and others working behind the scenes to gauge support.

Kyl, currently No. 3 in Senate leadership as conference chairman, had not officially announced his candidacy at press time. However, a source close to the Arizona Republican said he would seek the post being vacated by retiring Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.). It appears no one will contest Kyl.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) was considered a possible opponent to Kyl. Yet Alexander —  who lost the minority whip race to Lott after the 2006 elections by one vote — has decided to back Kyl for the No. 2 post and run for conference chairman.

Kyl was targeted by Democrats in the 2006 cycle but cruised to a third term. Now, just a couple days after Lott’s surprise retirement announcement, he is expected to assume a highly visible leadership position. 

“I would be very surprised if Kyl doesn’t move up. That would make the most sense,” said Jade West, senior vice president-government relations for the National Association of Wholesaler–Distributors and the former staff director of the Senate Republican Policy Committee.

McConnell’s office indicated that no date has been set for the leadership elections — a decision that is made by the Republican Conference in consultation with the leader.

However, sources said Kyl would like to see the positions filled quickly.

In a press release on Monday, Alexander declared his intention to run for the Kyl’s post should Kyl officially declare his run for whip. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) have privately said they intend to seek the conference chair position as well. Hutchison, who is currently in the No. 4 leadership position as chair of the Republican Policy Committee, is said to be eyeing a gubernatorial bid in 2010.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has also received encouragement to make a move into leadership, though it is unclear how much support he would have in the GOP conference. His office confirmed he has received calls and is taking them into consideration.

However, a GOP aide said DeMint would be better served to remain as chairman of the Steering Committee.

“There is very little advantage to giving up his steering position, where he has been effective without the headaches of leadership,” the aide said.

Irking Republican leaders, DeMint held up the ethics bill earlier this year, claiming the earmark language was too weak. DeMint’s aggressiveness on reducing earmarks has not sat well with some Senate Republicans. 

Meanwhile, Alexander’s decision puts him in the position to potentially bypass the regular leadership ascension, an unusual feat in the upper chamber. Senate sources said Alexander did not have the votes to defeat Kyl.

“When we announced we viewed it as filling a vacancy as opposed to breaking the chain,” said Tom Ingram, Alexander’s chief of staff.

Ingram said Alexander was interested in what skills would best serve the conference, and that he believed his leadership style would be the best fit.

Most on Capitol Hill believe McConnell privately worked to elect Alexander as minority whip. And when Alexander lost by a single vote, some congressional insiders wondered if McConnell and Lott could work well together. But for the most part, they did. Lott said on Monday that he is ready for another challenge, a challenge that many believe will be in the lobbying profession.

Alexander learned from that race, Ingram said.

“You take a risk every time you put your name on a ballot,” Ingram said. “The loss by one vote was a good experience. He gained a lot of respect.”

Alexander is up for reelection next year, but is a heavy favorite to retain his seat.

Alexander has worked on a bipartisan basis throughout 2007 to implement the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, though Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has expressed reservations about the measure.

West said the natural progression would be that Hutchison would move to conference chair, allowing Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), currently conference vice chair, to move into her position. Cornyn’s office confirmed Tuesday that the senator would seek to replace Hutchison should she vacate the policy chair.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) is the only announced senator to seek the vice chair position, should Cornyn move up the chain.

A Senate leadership aide agreed, “The fight will be over the policy and vice chair positions.”

The aide added Hutchison is already in leadership and would be hard to beat given her current position and the fact that she adds diversity to the white male leadership team.