Alaska Governor Sarah Palin announced Friday that she intends to resign from office at the end of the month, further fueling speculation that she will focus on a bid for the White House in 2012. The former GOP vice presidential candidate made the surprising announcement from her home in Wasilla on Friday morning, stating that she would step down effective July 26. Palin, however, did not elaborate on her plans.

In a statement released by her office, Palin said:

"Once I decided not to run for re-election, I also felt that to embrace the conventional Lame Duck status in this particular climate would just be another dose of politics as usual, something I campaigned against and will always oppose.

It is my duty to always protect our great state. With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is best to make a difference this summer, and I am willing to change things, so that this administration, with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future, can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success."

Lt. Governor Sean Parnell will thus take over as the state's governor, and will be inaugurated at the governor's picnic in Fairbanks at the end of the month.

Palin was first elected to the position in 2006. Her term would have ended in 2010.