A party rocked by recent scandals is now trying to come to terms with another stunner.

Republican Sarah Palin announced on Friday that she will be stepping down as Governor of Alaska.

Considering the Republican party was already facing somewhat of an identity crisis, the latest bombshell has local politicians on both sides of the fence wondering what's next.

"I've never believed that I or anyone else needs a title to do this," Palin said at a press conference on Friday. "To help people."

Other than that, Sarah Palin refused to specifically explain why she will resign as Alaska's governor on July 26. Some have speculated she is leaving to concentrate on a run for president in 2012, something that at least one local republican thinks is much too premature.

"I would've liked to have seen her stay as governor," said Washoe County Republican Chair Heidi Smith. "A run for president? I would like to see her do something else."

Smith says she prefers that Palin run as vice-president again in 2012, a move that would keep a valuable member of the party in the spotlight without risking too much.

"Will it destroy the party if she's not around? No," said Smith. "Will it help the party if she sticks around? Yeah. Because she had a lot of people in favor of her."

Chris Wicker, the former chair of the Washoe County Democratic Party says Palin's decision could have even more drastic consequences. Wicker thinks Palin's resignation sends a terrible message to the nation and a party swarming with controversy.

"I think she's going to be hard pressed to find someone say it's a good move to quit as governor 18 months in advance."

Without a reasonable explanation, all anyone can do right now is speculate why Palin would walk away and what it will ultimately mean for her political future.

"Sarah Palin is a mystery within a mystery," said Wicker. "So, we can speculate, but I think there's another shoe that's yet to drop."

"If she has enough people who can keep her in the limelight, it's a good thing," said Smith. "If she doesn't, she'll fade into the darkness and that could be a problem."