Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell, one of the state's most popular politicians, said yesterday that she would not seek re-election in 2010. The surprise move jolted her fellow Republicans and gave Democrats hope of winning the governorship for the first time since 1986.

Rell became governor on July 1, 2004, following the resignation of scandal-plagued John Rowland (R), who later went to prison. At one point during her tenure, her numbers were the highest in state history. But, as the Hartford Courant's Keating & Lender report, things haven't been so rosy lately:

With unemployment increasing, the state budget has a projected deficit as high as $624 million, and Rell expects continued clashes with the Democratic-controlled legislature.

There have been other problems as well:

Although Rell came into office trumpeting ethics and good government, her administration has had several close encounters with ethical questions. In December 2005, Rell suspended her chief of staff, M. Lisa Moody, for two weeks without pay after The Courant revealed that Moody violated an ethics policy on state time at the Capitol by telling top appointees to distribute tickets for a Rell campaign fundraiser at the Marco Polo restaurant in East Hartford.

Rell and Moody also have received some unfavorable press in the past two months, with newspaper stories revealing that e-mails showed Rell's Sept. 1 vow to veto "pork" items from the Democrat-approved budget bill came after administration lawyers told her it would be unconstitutional and that a $223,000 taxpayer-funded study on government efficiency had produced political advice for Rell. The study is now under investigation, and the state attorney general has issued at least one subpoena seeking documents.

Her decision leaves the GOP a bit blindsided:

Rell, 63, clearly would have been the Republicans' best weapon in 2010. She received the highest approval rating for any modern Connecticut governor — 83 percent — in the January 2005 Quinnipiac University poll. This past September, after a year of state budget woes, she scored her lowest rating — a still-enviable 59 percent.

The CT News Junkie blog talks a little more about Rell's falling numbers:

Rell's decision in September to allow the state budget to go into effect without her signature proved unpopular with the voters. It was the first time Rell's poll numbers dropped to an all-time low of 59 percent. But even though her approval rating dropped, 57 percent of voters polled said they definitely or probably vote for her in the next election. Now they won't get a chance.

An all-but-certain GOP candidate is Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, who has long said he would run if Rell did not. Other potential Republicans include House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero and Senate GOP Leader John McKinney. While there was some speculation that former Rep. Rob Simmons would drop out of the Senate race to run for governor, he said he will stay where he is.

The Box Turtle Bulletin, a pro-gay rights blog, said it will miss Rell, calling her a "shining star of decency within the Republican Party and it will be diminished by her retirement."

Nathan Daschle, the executive director of the Democratic Governors Association, was pleased with the turn of events:

We are fortunate to have a strong field of Democratic candidates who are well-known public servants, each of whom has the knowledge, leadership, and judgment to guide the state through these tough economic times. Moving Connecticut into our list of top-tier pickup opportunities means that the DGA will invest in the state to ensure a Democrat wins in 2010.

Democrats looking at the governor's race include Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz, Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy, former House Speaker James Amann, state Sen. Gary LeBeau, and Ned Lamont, who defeated Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic Senate primary. Here is Lamont's announcement today about his exploratory committee.

Here is a list of other governors who are stepping down after 2010:

Alabama — Bob Riley (R) (term limited)
California — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) (term limited)
Florida — Charlie Crist (R) (running for Senate)
Georgia — Sonny Perdue (R) (term limited)
Hawaii — Linda Lingle (R) (term limited)
Kansas — Mark Parkinson (D) (retiring)
Maine — John Baldacci (D) (term limited)
Michigan — Jennifer Granholm (D) (term limited)
Minnesota — Tim Pawlenty (R) (retiring)
New Mexico — Bill Richardson (D) (term limited)
Oklahoma — Brad Henry (D) (term limited)
Oregon — Ted Kulongoski (D) (term limited)
Pennsylvania — Ed Rendell (D) (term limited)
Rhode Island — Don Carcieri (R) (term limited)
South Carolina — Mark Sanford (R) (term limited)
South Dakota — Mike Rounds (R) (term limited)
Tennessee — Phil Bredesen (D) (term limited)
Vermont — Jim Douglas (R) (retiring)
Wisconsin — Jim Doyle (D) (retiring)
Wyoming — Dave Freudenthal (D) (term limited)

Tags: On The Ballot