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Moderate Senjem will lead Republicans in state Senate
The Rochester senator's choice indicates a move toward the center by the much-reduced GOP upper-house contingent.
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Seeking a moderate and conciliatory voice, Senate Republicans picked Rochester legislator David Senjem on Friday to lead them in the next legislative session.
Senjem, reelected Tuesday to his second term, has a relatively low profile among leading Republican senators. He will succeed Dick Day, of Owatonna, a colorful and sometimes combative personality, as Senate minority leader.
Although saying he is a social conservative, Senjem, 63, characterized himself as middle-of-the-road ideologically among his GOP colleagues.
He and other Republican senators said Tuesday's election, which reduced their party's representation from 29 to 23 of the Senate's 67 seats, curbs their ability to press conservative agendas on same-sex marriage and abortion.
"Simply look at the numbers," Senjem said. "There's no profound social amendment or anything of the like that's going to pass, given the numbers. It's a matter of how many wedge issues do you lob out there?"
Another leading Republican, Geoff Michel, of Edina, added: "I think the politics of wedge issues has kind of proven to be a loser."
Michel said the Senate Republican caucus concluded that "one of the important messages from the election is that people are looking for solutions, people are looking for authenticity."
He said Senjem is respected by members of both parties, adding, "I think an important part of it was his personality, his temperament."
Senjem has proved he can prevail in a swing district. He was first elected in 2002. He has been an administrator at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for 42 years. He served on the Rochester City Council before running for the Senate.
Republicans emphasized that selection of an outstate legislator as their leader contrasts with the DFL choice of two Minneapolis residents -- Sen. Larry Pogemiller and Rep. Margaret Anderson Kelliher -- as Senate majority leader and House speaker.
Asked how he will deal with the sometimes crafty and pugnacious Pogemiller, Senjem replied: "I look forward to a good relationship. We're not going to get into any dogfights about the issues."
During his time as minority leader, Day pushed unsuccessfully for the state to authorize Canterbury Park in Shakopee to own and operate a casino as a means to raise revenue for the state. That earned him the enmity of Indian tribes concerned about losing their statewide monopoly on casino gambling. The tribes over the years have contributed heavily to the DFL Party and its candidates.
At a news conference after the long closed-door caucus Friday, Republican leaders said Day decided not to continue as minority leader. He had held the post for nine years.
"Dave Senjem is a good friend of mine, and I absolutely love the man, and I'm going to do everything I can to help him," Day said afterward.
Contrasting his style with that of Day, Senjem said, "Senator Day is obviously flamboyant; I may not be quite as flamboyant as he is."
Pat Doyle • 651-222-1210 • pdoyle@startribune.com
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