WASHINGTON — While Sen. Lamar Alexander appears set to return as Republican Conference chairman, other area members of Congress say they have no plans to seek leadership positions in the upcoming session.

Lawmakers are scheduled to gather next week to vote on their parties’ leaders in both chambers. With no Senate Republican having challenged Sen. Alexander so far, he is likely to retain his party’s No. 3 leadership post when the session begins in January.

“It’ll be up to the caucus, but I’m encouraged that there hasn’t been anybody talking about wanting to run for the top three spots,” Sen. Alexander, R-Tenn., said. “We work well together.”

Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Republican Whip John Kyl, R-Ariz., also do not have challengers for their leadership spots.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said he has no designs on leadership now but did not rule it out in the future.

“At a point down the road, I may feel like I have a greater effect in pursuing a role like that, but not today,” he said. ”When you’re in leadership, sometimes you’re not as free to be as independent in some of the positions you take.”

Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said he has “a lot of confidence” in the current trio of Republican Senate leaders and will support their re-election. Georgia’s other U.S. senator, Republican Saxby Chambliss, is locked in a runoff against Democrat Jim Martin that won’t be decided until Dec. 2.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Conference Vice Chair Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., are expected to retain their top-three leadership posts.

In the House, potential gubernatorial aspirations have put at least a temporary halt on any party leadership plans for Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn.

Rep. Wamp, who ran unsuccessfully for whip in 2006, said he is waiting to see whether former Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist seeks the Republican nomination for Tennessee governor in the 2010 election. Rep. Wamp has said if Sen. Frist does not enter the gubernatorial race, he most likely will.

“I feel that this (gubernatorial) opportunity in Tennessee, if it presents itself to me, is quite possibly the best way I can serve the public and the state,” Rep. Wamp said.

He said he would support Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, in his bid to retain his post as House minority leader. Rep. Boehner is unopposed, but the Republican No. 2 and No. 3 leaders have resigned their posts in the wake of big GOP losses this election cycle.

Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., said through a spokesman that he is not interested in a leadership bid.

Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., said he also is not going to challenge for a Democratic leadership post but likely will seek more clout in the moderate Blue Dog Democrat coalition. He also has expressed interest in running for governor.

He said with the leadership team of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., expected to stay intact, the Blue Dog coalition has an important role in make sure conservative Democratic voices are heard.

“I spend most of my time with the Blue Dogs and formulating what positions we will take on issues,” he said.

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