There's a new Republican force in town in the Legislature and longtime GOP operatives are forming a partnership to deal with it.

Monday, Ben Golnik, who most recently ran Republican Tom Emmer's recount efforts for the GOP and the Minnesota Senate Republican's campaign, and Gregg Peppin, former director of the Minnesota Republican's House campaign committee who helped 25 House candidates win in November, announced they have joined forces to drum up public relations and mobilization business.

Dax Bennet, who has been working with Peppin as a designer and is a former Republican staffer, and Tom Steward, a longtime Republican communications specialist working with Golnik of late, are also part of the new partnership. Read more about all involved here.

Their new partnership is part of the shifting post-election landscape in the consultant community. Last week, Goff & Howard announced former Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung would partner with their firm.