In wake of the 2014 elections, the DFL and Republican House Caucuses met late last week to select their leadership for the 2015-2016 Minnesota legislative session. The new Republican Majority selected current Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R–Crown) as their candidate for Speaker of the House in the upcoming session. Daudt beat back challenges from Representatives Matt Dean (R–Dellwood) and Rod Hamilton (R–Mountain Lake). Daudt was the architect of the fundraising and candidate recruitment efforts that put the Republicans in the majority.

Representative Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers) will join the leadership team as Majority Leader. In her comments after the Caucus meeting, Rep. Peppin said the House Republicans will be particularly sensitive to the needs of rural Minnesota where her Caucus picked up most of the 11 seats that put them in the majority.

In the House DFL Caucus, current Speaker of the House Paul Thissen (DFL–Minneapolis) was selected to return as Caucus leader, albeit this time as Minority Leader.

Representative Daudt predicted that the Committee organization for the 2015-2016 session would be in place by November 14 and Committee Chairs would be announced by November 21. Full committee membership is not expected to be announced until mid-December.

On the Senate side, Senator Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) will continue to lead the Senate Majority Caucus and Senator David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) will continue to lead the Senate Republican Caucus.