Sources tell Civil Beat that Shan Tsutsui is moving closer to taking Brian Schatz‘s old job — you know, the one he held until Thursday (Dec. 27) when he was sworn in as a U.S. senator.

As state Senate president, Tsutsui gets first dibs to be lieutenant governor. If he doesn’t want it, House Speaker Calvin Say is next in line, followed by Attorney General David Louie and on down the Cabinet line.

More intrigue: The governor has set a press conference for 3:30 p.m. today to “regarding the office of lieutenant governor.”

If Tsutsui becomes LG, that sets off a leadership battle in the Senate, and there are no clear favorites for that job. Donna Mercado Kim? Brickwood Galuteria? Who knows! The Senate is as factionalized as the House of Representatives.

The leadership shuffle could also impact other leadership posts and committee assignments in the Senate.