(RTTNews) -  Alaska governor Sarah Palin said Friday that she will resign on July 26 and not seek re-election. Her term of office was due to end in 2010.

Ms. Palin, 45, announced her decision at a hastily convened press conference this morning at her home in suburban Wasilla, Alaska.

She said she has determined to transfer the authority to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who will be sworn in at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks at the end of the month.
Palin did not reveal what she planned to do after leaving office, but the announcement raised speculation that she would vie for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2012.

Palin was Arizona Sen. John McCain's vice presidential running mate last year.

by RTT Staff Writer

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