DFL, GOP pick their majority and minority leaders for the Minnesota Legislature in 2027

Majority and minority leaders of the Minnesota Legislature have been chosen days after Democrats regained control of the deadlocked House and held onto control of the Senate in Tuesday's midterm election.

On Thursday night, Democrats elected current caucus leader Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) as House Speaker, a role that he will officially take on Jan. 12 when the next legislative session begins.

Stephenson has represented District 35A since 2019 and served as the DFL caucus leader since last September, following the politically motived killing of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman , whose 2004 campaign he worked on.

"I am honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to become the 60th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, following in Melissa Hortman's footsteps," Stephenson said in a statement Friday. "We'll govern in a way that would make her proud."

Democrats are expected to have a 77-57 majority in the House, pending the outcome of a recount in District 32A, where incumbent Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine) leads Democratic challenger Amanda Matchett by 22 votes.

House DFLers chose Rep. Jamie Long (DFL-Minneapolis) as majority leader and Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL-Minneapolis) as majority whip for the 2027-28 legislative session.

Amid the departure of House Speaker Lisa Demuth (GOP-Cold Spring), who unsuccessfully ran for governor instead of reelection, Rep. Harry Niska (GOP-Ramsey) was selected by his caucus Friday morning to serve as minority leader.

Niksa says he hopes he and Stephenson can replicate the open dialogue that Hortman and Demuth had when they led their respective caucuses in 2025.

"I hope that there's going to be a similar ability to at least talk to each other and understand that even if they don't need our votes, that they are going to treat us with respect," Niska said.

Rep. Jim Nash (GOP-Waconia) was elected deputy minority leader after previously having served as the Republican whip.

Senate leaders confirmed

In the Senate, where Democrats are projected to go from a one-seat majority to at least a 39-28 split over Republicans, all five constitutional officers will remain DFL.

Sen. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) was reelected Thursday as majority leader, a position that she took up in February 2024 after the late Sen. Kari Dziedzic resigned due to the return of her ovarian cancer.

"I am so honored that the Senate DFL has placed its faith in me to lead this caucus," Murphy said in a statement.  "Every member of our caucus has had thousands of conversations and meetings with Minnesotans across the state this year.

"We have heard the frustration Minnesotans are feeling. We are committed to policies that address those concerns and help improve their lives. We will work to make health care and energy costs more affordable, and we will help them deal with the rising costs caused by Donald Trump's illegal tariffs and war. We begin this work today. Our caucus will bring the disciplined focus and fresh energy worthy of the people of Minnesota to our work of our future."

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis) will continue to preside over the chamber as Senate president, with Sens. John Marty (DFL-Roseville) and Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato) staying on as finance chair and deputy majority leader, respectively.

Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) will replace retiring Sen. Ann Rest as chair of the tax committee.

"I am honored by the confidence my colleagues have placed in me to continue to serve as president of the Minnesota Senate," Champion said in a statement.  "Presiding over the Senate every day for the past four years has allowed me a unique role in guiding the important work being done in the chamber on behalf of all Minnesotans. I will continue to bring my experience, my knowledge of Senate procedure and my professionalism to the job as the Senate makes decisions that impact the lives of people all across the state."

Meanwhile, Senate Republicans picked Sen. Jordan Rasmusson (GOP-Fergus Falls) to lead their caucus as minority leader. Sens. Julia Coleman (GOP-Waconia), Karin Housley (GOP-Stillwater) and John Jasinski (GOP-Faribault) will remain in assistant leader positions, joined by Sen. Jeremy Munson (GOP-Crystal) and two others who will be named later.

The Minnesota DFL will have its first trifecta since 2022, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar set to become Minnesota's first woman governor.

This story was originally published by Bring Me The News on Nov 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.