Wyoming Sen. Thomas Dead at 74

In this undated photo downloaded from Sen. Craig Thomas' official Web site, Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., is shown. Thomas, a three-term conservative Republican who stayed clear of the Washington limelight and political catfights, died Monday June 4, 2007. He was 74. He had been receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. (AP Photo//thomas.senate.gov-File) (Anonymous - AP)

WASHINGTON -- The death of Republican Sen. Craig Thomas will not change the balance of power in the Senate. Unlike many states, Wyoming law is designed to keep the same party in power after a vacancy.

Thomas, a conservative, died after a fight with leukemia that was diagnosed last year just as he was elected for a third term. He was 74.

The senator's family said he died Monday evening at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The family had said earlier in the day that his cancer had been resistant to a second round of chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

He had also developed an infection, his family said.

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

Freudenthal called Thomas' death "a very big loss to the people of this state," saying "he carried the values that we treasure in Wyoming to Washington and had many successes."

The governor officially notified the party of Thomas's death Tuesday, and the GOP now has 15 days to convene and choose the nominees. Once the governor receives the names from the party, he has five days to choose one.

The new senator will serve until the next general election in 2008, when a special election will determine who completes Thomas's term, which runs through 2012.

Democrats and Republicans each have 49 members of the 100-member Senate. But two independents vote and organize with Democrats, giving them the slim majority they presently hold. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., has been recovering from major illness and has not participated in Senate activities in months.

Thomas was hospitalized with pneumonia just before the 2006 election, but 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.

President Bush called Thomas "a man of character and integrity known for his devotion to the values he shared with the people of Wyoming."