One thing is certain: It would dramatically alter the Arizona political landscape.

Napolitano's departure, which could come in weeks, would place Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer, 64, in control of the Governor's Office. It would be the first time since 2002 that the GOP has controlled both the executive and legislative branches of state government, giving the party its best opportunity in years to enact a conservative agenda.

It also would mark the first time in two decades that a mid-term gubernatorial transition has shifted power from one party to the other. It last happened in 1988 with Democrat Rose Mofford's ascendancy following the impeachment of Republican Gov. Evan Mecham.

Napolitano's much-reported selection as secretary of Homeland Security remains unannounced. But it's already being cheered by GOP legislators and inspiring dread among Democrats who would lose their traditional backstop on the Executive Tower's Ninth Floor: Napolitano.

In her first six years in office, she shattered the state's veto record by rejecting 180 bills.

Brewer, a former county supervisor and state legislator, doesn't figure to be nearly so prolific with the veto stamp in working with a Republican-led Legislature.

Sen. Ken Cheuvront, a Phoenix Democrat state senator believes, "It's going to be a travesty. We will have no one to stop the extremist legislation that inevitably will be put forward by the Republican majority."

Office remains mum

Speculation on Napolitano's departure ran wild at the Capitol on Thursday, although her office was again mum. The governor didn't appear for an afternoon closed-door meeting with Cabinet members, according to multiple sources. Brewer hasn't been notified of anything by Napolitano or her staff and issued a statement declining to comment until she knows more.

She would serve the remaining two years of Napolitano's term, inheriting a state with a budget more than $1 billion out of balance, a flagging economy and a host of tough choices in terms of spending cuts.

The change in leadership could be most dramatic in how the state handles that shortfall.

Napolitano has blunted deep cuts with borrowing and fiscal maneuvers and has pledged to protect education and state services for children and vulnerable populations. Legislative Republicans have pushed for deeper cuts that might bring more pain in the short term but that they argue would be more fiscally responsible and potentially spare the need for big cuts later on.

The incoming leaders of the House and Senate said Brewer would offer the prospect of smoother budget negotiations, if only because all negotiators would be Republicans.

"Philosophically, we'll be a lot more in parallel with her," said Sen. Bob Burns, Senate president-elect.

With state finances continuing to sour, Napolitano pet projects including Science Foundation Arizona and all-day kindergarten may be in jeopardy, some observers say.

The governor's handling of social issues such as abortion also figures to illustrate the philosophical shift from Napolitano to Brewer. Napolitano has repeatedly vetoed attempts to limit abortion, and some of those measures may be revived for Brewer.

"Her whole six years of putting moderation in this state will in the next two years be completely devastated," Cheuvront said, echoing raw feelings that he said are common among his Democratic colleagues. "If she truly cared about the state of Arizona, she would stay."

But friends and colleagues of Brewer say many of the concerns are overblown. They characterize her as a principled conservative with a pragmatic streak, and one whom they expect will find a far easier relationship with the Legislature than Napolitano. Recent legislative sessions have been typified by their contentiousness and length, with the past two dragging until the end of the fiscal year.

Pat Wright, who served with Brewer during the early 1980s in the House and later in the Senate, said Brewer "worked very well with people." Brewer was majority whip in the Senate, meaning she was charged with ensuring Republican votes for the GOP agenda. But Wright said she never saw Brewer brandish the figurative whip, calling her style "very easygoing."

Political ideology aside, Arizona State University pollster Bruce Merrill said Brewer's style "may be much more effective than Janet (Napolitano) has been in terms of working with legislators and reaching a budget deal."

"She's more like a Jane Hull," Merrill added, "and understands working in small groups and working with legislators."

Hull, a Republican, was the last to take over the governorship of Arizona mid-term when, in 1997, she replaced impeached GOP Gov. Fife Symington.

Reached on Thursday by The Arizona Republic, Hull called the news of Napolitano's pending departure for the Obama administration "somewhat expected." Brewer may have a longer period to ease into the job than Hull had, she noted, and collaboration between the incoming and outgoing staff will be key to a smooth transition.

Regardless, "Secretary Brewer has a big job in front of her," Hull said. "No transition is easy."

Hull's advice: "Put very good people around you, work closely with the Legislature. This too will pass."