Johnson remains assistant minority leader

State Sen. David Johnson

Republicans in the Iowa Senate selected new leadership after an extensive caucus Tuesday in Des Moines.

Sen. David Johnson, an Ocheyedan Republican, was under consideration for Minority Whip, the second position among Republican senators. That role went to Sen. Steve Kettering of Lake View.

"There can't be any disappointment when you come out of a meeting like that and you're all pulling together," Johnson said.

Johnson will remain an assistant Republican leader. Tuesday's result marks the fourth time his peers in the senate have placed him on the leadership team.

Kettering succeeds Mark Zieman of Postville as Minority Whip. Zieman lost his Senate District 8 seat to Democrat Mary Jo Wilhelm in the Nov 4 election.

Iowa Senate Republicans also made a change at the top when they voted to replace Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck of Sioux City with Sen. Paul McKinley of Chariton. McKinley was first elected in 2000.

"We came out of that long meeting today absolutely unified and our eyes very much focused not only on addressing the issues of Iowans in this next general assembly and protecting the family pocketbook, but also looking at 2010 and our plans to make great strides in moving toward the majority once again," Johnson said.

Democrats now control the Senate by a 32-18 margin. On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, and Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, won new two-year terms without opposition.

House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, won new terms as Democrats in that chamber expanded their majority to 56-44.

House Republicans have elected Hiawatha lawyer Kraig Paulsen as minority leader. He replaces state Rep. Christopher Rants of Sioux City.