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RALEIGH — Governor Bev Perdue's announcement Thursday had politicians and political experts speculating what will happen now.

Republicans and Democrats alike said the announcement came as a surprise. Democrat John Phillips said he voted for Perdue in the last election and said he wanted to see her run again.

"She has a lot of ideas on education, good ideas she wants to work on. She can probably do that better not being Governor,” said Phillips.

Gov. Perdue said education is one reason she is ending her tenure as governor. In her formal statement she said:

And it is clear to me that my race for re-election will only further politicize the fight to adequately fund our schools. A re-election campaign in this already divisive environment will make it more difficult to find any bipartisan solutions.

Republican David Basnight said he was behind Perdue's challenger Pat McCrory in 2008, and will most likely support him again this year. Like many Republicans, he thinks Perdue's slipping poll numbers and growing support for McCrory mean she would not have beaten him a second time.

"She would have had a tough fight. Obama's going to have a tough fight in this state,” said Basnight.

Democrats say they now they hope their party can find a good candidate with the Democratic National Convention being in Charlotte this fall. Phillips thinks the long list of potential democratic candidates is a good sign.

"I think there's some good people across the state. I'm not sure which ones, but there's several hats in the ring already,” said Phillips.

Candidate filing for the fall election begins Feb. 13.

Perdue's second in command, Lt. Governor Walter Dalton has already thrown his name in the ring, saying he will run. Orange County Representative Bill Faison tells News 14 Carolina an announcement of his candidacy comes next week.

Other Democrats rumored to consider running for Gov. Perdue's seat include:

• Congressman Heath Shuler
• Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx
• former State Treasurer Richard Moore
• Congressman Mike McIntyre.