RIP -- Senator Craig Thomas

Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, a three-term conservative Republican who stayed clear of the Washington limelight and political catfights, died Monday. He was 74.

The senator's family issued a statement saying he died Monday evening at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He had been receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Just before the 2006 election, Thomas was hospitalized with pneumonia and had to cancel his last campaign stops. He nonetheless won with 70 percent of the vote, monitoring the election from his hospital bed.

Two days after the election, Thomas announced that he had just been diagnosed with leukemia.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, will appoint a successor from one of three finalists chosen by the state Republican party.

Frankly, Senator Thomas showed great courage and dignity in how he dealt with his illness. His death is sudden, unexpected, and very sad. He and his loved ones are in my prayers at this time.

Wyoming law seems to establish a process for keeping the seat in the hands of the party that won it in the last election, but that means this seat is also in play in 2008. This could make for some interesting dynamics in the 2008 election cycle.