Republicans in the Minnesota Senate will meet to select a new Majority Leader on Tuesday, Dec. 27, the caucus announced.
The caucus will select a replacement for Sen. Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, who stepped down as majority leader last Thursday. Senators said she did so after being confronted about an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
A Senate Rules Committee hearing scheduled for Wednesday, which is chaired by the majority leader, will be postponed until after the new leader is selected.
Sen. Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, released a video this week saying he is interested in the Leader's position. A spokesman for Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, who chairs the Senate Taxes Committee, said Ortman is considering it.
Others who have been mentioned include Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, the Deputy Majority Leader who is acting leader until Koch's replacement is chosen; Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, who chairs the Health and Human Services Committee; Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville; Sen. Chris Gerlach, R-Apple Valley, who chairs the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee; and Sen. Mike Parry, R-Waseca, who is currently a candidate for Congress.
