Champion, Murphy, Stephenson reelected as DFL legislative leaders

ST. PAUL — DFL legislators elected to keep the same leaders in the state House and Senate on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion of Minneapolis was reelected president of the Senate, and Sen. Erin Murphy of St. Paul was reelected majority leader.

House DFLers selected Rep. Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids to serve as Speaker for the 2027-28 legislative session. Stephenson became the DFL caucus leader after the assassination of Melissa Hortman in June 2025.

Murphy and Stephenson both named cost of living a top priority at press conferences on Thursday and Friday, but how they plan to approach the issue shows the difference between the two chambers.

The House is traditionally more fast-paced and partisan.

"We will be laser-focused on making life more affordable for Minnesotans, particularly in the areas of healthcare, childcare and housing," Stephenson said. "We will take aggressive action to deliver for Minnesotans. That's what they expect. And we are prepared to do that."

The Senate tends to be slower and more businesslike.

"Some of the issues I think we need to solve for — the cost of healthcare, childcare, housing — are not going to happen in the blink of an eye," Murphy said. " ... I think it's important for us to recognize that we need to deliberate. We need to be methodical and disciplined to bring solutions that actually work."

Republicans selected Sen. Jordan Rasmusson of Fergus Falls as minority leader, a role previously held by Sen. Mark Johnson of East Grand Forks. Rasmusson served as an assistant minority leader in the 2025-26 session.

And Republicans on Friday elected Rep. Harry Niska to replace Lisa Demuth as their leader in the House. Republican Tanja Goering of Paynesville was elected to fill Demuth's seat in the midterms after Demuth ran for governor rather than running for reelection.