Senate DFLers on Thursday unanimously selected state Sen. Tom Bakk to be the new minority leader.

Bakk, of Cook, will lead DFLers in the Senate after the party lost control of the chamber for the first time in 40 years. Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, opted not to run for the post after the party's poor showing in Tuesday's election.

"It's a difficult day for people," he said after the nearly three-hour meeting," said Bakk, who chaired the Senate taxes committee. "(But) the election is behind us."

Bakk said Senate DFLers would focus on jobs, education and health care.