The premier of the western German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, announced her resignation on Wednesday.
Dreyer, a Social Democrat (SPD) who has led the state since 2013, said she would leave the post in July.
Sources told dpa that she would be replaced by Alexander Schweitzer, another Social Democrat. He currently serves as the state's minister for labour and social affairs.
That would give the 50-year-old Schweitzer the opportunity to head into the next state parliamentary election - scheduled for 2026 - as an incumbent.
There had been speculation for some time that Dreyer, 63, might make such a move to resign from the post.
Sources told dpa that two other Social Democrats - Interior Minister Michael Ebling and state parliamentary group leader Sabine Bätzing-Lichtenthäler - had also been considered as possible successors to Dreyer.