Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday that he will run for re-election in 2010, possibly setting up a bruising primary battle with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

If he's elected and serves a full third term, Mr. Perry would be in office an unprecedented 14 years. He'll become Texas' longest-serving governor at the end of his current term.

Mr. Perry, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, indicated his plans during a break in a forum the group held in Grapevine.

Asked by The Dallas Morning News whether the gubernatorial field would include Ms. Hutchison, Mr. Dewhurst and himself, Mr. Perry responded, "I don't know about them, but it will be Perry in 2010."

"I don't know about the other two. You need to ask them."

Ms. Hutchison, the Republican who opted not to run against Mr. Perry in 2006, appeared unaffected by the governor's statement. She has said that her decision to run for governor would not be swayed by other candidates in the race this time.

"I am encouraged by the growing number of Texans asking me to return home to run for governor to provide leadership for our state," she said in a statement Thursday.

"It is too early to make an announcement about the 2010 race. Right now I remain committed to serving the people of Texas in the United States Senate."

Mr. Dewhurst, a Republican, also said he would weigh his options later.

"My focus is on the 2009 legislative session and continuing to build on our successes over the past five years. Whatever I decide to do after that will be based on what's best for Texas," he said.

Longtime Republican consultant Bill Miller said the governor's remark not only tips his hand but also tips the political balance.

"Most politicians who have been around awhile understand that when you become a lame duck, you really lose leverage and you lose your ability to get some things done, particularly hard things," Mr. Miller said.

Eight months before a legislative session, it might be wise to strengthen your clout with lawmakers by letting them know you intend to be in the executive office for a while, he said. "It's the nature of politics."

Since winning re-election with just 39 percent of the vote in a four-way field in 2006, Mr. Perry has held out the possibility of running again. But his statement Thursday is his most definitive yet that he would do so, though much could change in the 2 ½ years until the next gubernatorial election.

Mr. Perry took over for George W. Bush when Mr. Bush resigned in late 2000 to become president. The state has no term limits for governor.

Last year, Mr. Perry had expressed doubt as to whether he wanted another term, saying he would look at doing other things.

It has been speculated that Mr. Perry was positioning himself to be a vice presidential candidate, but he said Thursday that he would not accept such an offer from Arizona Sen. John McCain, the party's all-but-certain nominee.

Texas Democratic Party chief Boyd Richie sarcastically suggested that Mr. Perry has a lot to run on, including several school funding crises, the Texas Youth Commission sexual abuse scandal, soaring college tuitions, sprouting tollways, and more than 1 million children lacking health insurance.

"Texas Democrats look forward to 2010," Mr. Richie said.