Sen. Trent Lott’s (R., Miss.) resignation later this year may give conservatives an opening in the Senate leadership. Lott’s decision to resign will leave the minority whip spot open. Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.), currently chairman of the Senate Republican Conference (SRC), is a likely successor.

But who would replace Kyl? Sen. Kay Bailey-Hutchison (R., Tex.), currently chair of the Republican Policy Committee, may have weakened herself when she announced that she will not run for re-election in 2010. Will she shoot for SRC? And if she does, will her fellow Senators let her do so uncontested?

Conference vice-chairman John Cornyn (R., Tex.) is a natural for SRC, whose role is to promote Senate Republicans’ message in the media. But Cornyn will not likely challenge his fellow Texan if she runs.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R., S.C.), the steering committee chairman whose bomb-throwing reform proposals made him a nemesis of Lott, is reportedly interested, but the appropriators might move to stop that from happening. Another potential is John Thune (R., S.D.), but he has avoided such party posts thus far — recall his refusal to compete last year for the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.