Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) announced Monday evening that he would seek the Republican Conference chairmanship and support Sen. Jon Kyl (Ariz.) in his bid to become the next Minority Whip, a move that all but cements Kyl’s ascent into the No. 2 Republican leadership post. Alexander had been eyeing both the Whip job and the Conference chairmanship after the current Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) revealed plans to resign from the Senate later this year. Alexander now becomes at least the the third serious contender for the Conference chair post along with Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) and Richard Burr (N.C.). — Erin P. Billings