Sen. Craig Thomas (1933-2007)

Senator Craig Thomas (R-Wyoming) has died of leukemia after battling the disease since right after his reelection last November.

Thomas is third member of Congress to die of cancer this year, after Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-Georgia) and Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-California).

A Wyoming native, Thomas served in the Wyoming Legislature before being elected to the US Senate in 1994 and widely reelected in 2000 and 2006.

Thomas' replacement will be chosen by Democratic Governor Dave Freudenthal from a list of three Republican candidates picked by the State GOP within five days of receiving the names. Whoever is chosen will have to run in a special election next November to serve out the remainder of Thomas' term. Wyoming's other Senator, Mike Enzi, is also up next year meaning both Wyoming Senators will have to battle reelection.