Garmer, a trial lawyer from Lexington, said the party's losses in federal and state elections had nothing to do with his decision.

"I would have done this whichever way it went because I had realized I was just stretched beyond the limits of my emotional and physical energy," Garmer said Monday.

He took over the party's reins during a period in which it lost the governorship for the first time in a generation.

Garmer said the long hours he devoted to Democratic politics in recent months took him away from his family and law practice.

"It took such a toll on my personal and professional life that I had to get my priorities back in order," he said.

Garmer said he informed members of the party's State Central Committee of his decision Friday.

Garmer was elected by the committee in January.

State Auditor Crit Luallen, a Democrat, said the State Central Committee planned to meet Saturday to designate a nominating committee that would find Garmer's replacement. Bowling Green attorney Kerry Morgan, 34, who was the party's vice chairman, has taken over for Garmer during the interim.

Morgan said she hopes to help put Democrats in position to compete for various statewide races, including the governor's office in 2007.

"This is a great opportunity to move the Democratic Party forward during this time of change," Morgan said. "We need to take this time to build on our successes and analyze our defeats."

Republicans rode President Bush's coattails to a number of wins up and down the ticket last Tuesday. Garmer conceded that Bush's trouncing of Democrat John Kerry in Kentucky had far-reaching consequences.

"When the top of the ticket loses by 20 points, that reverberates all the way down to the bottom of the ticket," Garmer said.

Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning of Southgate won a second term, narrowly beating Democratic challenger Daniel Mongiardo of Hazard. Republicans also picked up a congressional seat with Geoff Davis' election over Nick Clooney in Northern Kentucky's 4th District. Davis' victory will leave Democrats with just one member of the state's congressional delegation - 6th District U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler.

Democratic Party officials hope to have a new leader in place by Jan. 15.