Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper says he will seek another eight-year term following the retention of three Democrats on the Supreme court.
Cooper, a former aide to then-Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, had not divulged his plans before last week's Supreme Court vote in which three Democratic justices prevailed despite a concerted effort to oust them.
Tennessee is the only state in the country where the Supreme Court appoints the attorney general.
Republicans hold vast majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, and some leaders like Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey hoped to oust at least one of the justices to give the GOP a majority on the five-member court -- and control of naming the next attorney general.
Cooper's term expires at the end of the month.