Tasmanian Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff is "very keen" to take on the top job after Peter Gutwein announced his shock retirement, the ABC understands.
Mr Gutwein announced plans to resign as Premier and Bass MP at a snap press conference late on Monday, saying he was drained from two years of managing the pandemic and wanted to spend more time with his family.
Liberal sources told the ABC Mr Rockliff is hoping to take on the role.
It is not clear whether Transport Minister Michael Ferguson — a conservative who has put his hand up in the past — will contest the Liberal leadership.
Mr Rockliff, a moderate Liberal, is likely to have the support of the partyroom.
The Braddon MP was elected alongside former premiers Will Hodgman and Peter Gutwein in 2002.
He was Deputy Premier to both men, and requested the Health portfolio at the last Cabinet reshuffle.
The ABC also understands Attorney-General Elise Archer will put her hand up to be deputy premier, no matter who takes the top job.
The position is also voted by the party room.
From Lifeline counsellor to premier hopeful
Mr Rockliff has three daughters — Ruby, Lucy and Holly — and has been married to wife Sandra Knowles since 2010.
He was a Lifeline counsellor before entering politics and owns a mixed cropping and lamb farm at Sassafras in the state's north-west.
Speaking on leadership in his inaugural speech, delivered late 2002, Mr Rockliff paid tribute to former premier Tony Rundle.
"Here was a person who was willing to throw caution to the wind for the sake of effecting change in Tasmania," Mr Rockliff said.
Mr Rockliff has been a strong supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, voted in favour of voluntary assisted dying last year and has been an advocate for reforming the state's education and mental health systems.
Rockliff 'well regarded by the community'
Kate Crowley, an adjunct associate professor at UTAS's School of Social Sciences, said Mr Rockliff would be the "dream" premier out of the potential candidates.
"He polled about 20,000 votes and so could bring candidates in behind him when he stands," she said.
She said the other potential contender for the job, Mr Ferguson, only polled one tenth of the vote of Mr Gutwein.
"He's polled about 3,000 votes," she said.
"If you look at what Tasmanians are saying, they're not saying that they particularly embrace him."
Mr Ferguson's most famous stint in the ministry was as health minister before the last state election.
He was eventually dumped in favour of Sarah Courtney following calls from the opposition for him to be sacked.
His relationship with the health sector had broken down amid ongoing issues with bed shortages and funding but then-premier Will Hodgman said the reshuffle was unrelated.
Mr Ferguson was in the news recently when he apologised for groaning in parliament during a question asked on behalf of a child sexual abuse survivor.
Dr Crowley questioned whether people would embrace Mr Ferguson as leader.
"That's not to say he couldn't transcend his own limitations as people often do when they assume positions of leadership, but that's yet to be seen," she said.
