COLUMBIA (WACH / AP) – Governor Nikki Haley will be announcing her choice to replace U.S. Senator Jim DeMint at noon today, according to Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey.

By state law, the governor has the authority to pick the outgoing Senator’s successor.  DeMint announced less than two weeks ago that he would leave the U.S. Senate on January 1 to take of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Haley's appointee will fill the seat until 2014, when voters will choose who will fill the remaining two years of DeMint's term.

On Haley’s reported short list of potential candidates,  former first lady Jenny Sanford, U.S. Reps. Tim Scott and Trey Gowdy, former Attorney General Henry McMaster and state health agency director Catherine Templeton.

WACH Fox will bring you her announcement, along with your conversation.  Be sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter pages for up to the minute updates.