OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State Sen. Andrew Rice, the Democratic leader of the state Senate and a one-time candidate for U.S. Senate, announced Tuesday that he plans to resign from office and move to Tennessee.

Rice, 38, submitted an irrevocable resignation letter to Gov. Mary Fallin, indicating his plans to resign effective Jan. 15. His current term ends in 2014, and Fallin is expected to announce the date for a special election for the central Oklahoma City seat within 30 days of his resignation.

Rice's wife, a physician, has accepted a job in Nashville, Tenn., and the couple plans to move to the city with their two young boys early next year, he said.

"She has made immense sacrifices for me in her support of my political career and public service, and I am honored to be able to reciprocate that for her now," Rice said.

First elected to Senate District 46 in 2006, Rice was re-elected in 2010 with nearly 70 percent of the vote. The distric t currently includes downtown Oklahoma City and many of the historic neighborhoods north of downtown. It was redrawn during the last legislative session to take in more of south Oklahoma City and become a majority Hispanic district, but those district lines won't take effect until after the 2012 elections.

Rice said current state Rep. Al McAffrey, D-Oklahoma City, plans to run for his seat and that he will support McAffrey's candidacy.

"He's done a great job and would be a great senator," Rice said.

In 2008, Rice challenged incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and received nearly 40 percent of the vote.

"Although I've run unsuccessfully for higher office, and have had a great deal of ambition politically, I have always approached my public service as a temporary and limited part of my career," he said.

Rice was elected by the Democratic caucus to serve as minority leader last year.

Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman said that while he and Ric e often did not see eye-to-eye on a number of issues, he has admiration and respect for his colleague.

"He is compassionate, intellectually honest, and relentless in the defense of his constituents," Bingman, R-Sapulpa, said in a statement. "I could not have asked for a better Senate colleague and minority leader counterpart."

Senate Democrats, who are outnumbered 32-16, are expected to meet in the next few months to elect a new leader.