The Dallas Morning News is reporting that U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison will not seek reelection in 2012, based on a letter sent from her to supporters earlier today.
Hutchison was first elected in a special election in 1993 to replace Democrat Lloyd Bentsen (he of "You're no Jack Kennedy" fame) when he became Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton Administration. Hutchison, then the Texas State Treasurer demolished interim Senator Charles Kreuger in the runoff, then was reelected in 1994, 2000 and 2006. She was clobbered, however in a bid for Governor in 2010, losing to Republican incumbent Rick Perry in the GOP primary. She has indicated her desire to retire (or even resign) for some time, going back as far as the beginning of her 4th full term.