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Hartford (WTNH) – The announcement late Monday that Governor Jodi Rell would not seek another term set off a major shuffling among state Republicans.

State Representative Larry Cafero of Norwalk, the House Republican leader, is now firmly among those considering a run for the Governorship. He already has an exploratory committee established to to explore a run for statewide office.

Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele told reporters moments after Rell’s announcement that the Governor had pledged to support him for the nomination.

Some have been pushing former Congressman Rob Simmons to run for Governor if Rell did not. But Simmons, who has been running for the U.S. Senate nomination since February, would have to start from scratch.

The money he has raised for his U.S. Senate race cannot be transferred to a race for state office. He may quietly try to convince one of his millionaire opponents, most likely former WWE/CEO Linda McMahon or former Ambassador Tom Foley, to run for Governor instead.

There has also been talk about State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney of Fairfield. He ruled out a run for Congress in the 4th District earlier this year because of family issues. There’s no word on if those issues would affect a run for Governor now.

As of this writing, there are six Democrats in the running; Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, Former Speaker of the House Jim Amann, State Senator Gary LeBeau of East Hartford, Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, and Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont.

There was talk that next year’s race for Governor would again be overshadowed by the race for the U.S. Senate like it was with the Lieberman race in 2006. It now appears a very competitive race for Governor for an open seat is now very much in the cards.

Of course the biggest question is, will Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, with his 80 percent approval rating, now decide to run for Governor? If he does, do the other Democrats bow out?