BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Gov. Jim Douglas will end the speculation about his political future at a news conference on Saturday, NewsChannel 5 reported.

The Champlain Valley will soon know whether Douglas is in or out of the U.S. Senate race.

According to the Associated Press, he's expected to announce that he will not seek the seat.

Just nine days ago, Sen. Jim Jeffords announced he plans to retire at the end of his 18th year, in 2006.

Then, Douglas told reporters he's focusing on his job at the statehouse and has no timetable for making a decision.

That changed sometime on Friday.

Sources close to Douglas will only say that he's considered his options carefully and wanted to clear the air as soon as he could.

Should he choose to run, he'd face Rep. Bernie Sanders, who has announced his intention to seek the seat.

Should he choose not to run, other Republicans are waiting on the bench, including Burlington businessman Rich Tarrant.