Republicans keep Lefor, Hogue as leaders for 2025 legislative session
House Majority Leader Mike Lefor and Senate Majority Leader David Hogue will maintain their leadership roles for the upcoming North Dakota legislative session.
Lefor, of Dickinson, and Hogue, of Minot, were reelected during Republican caucus meetings Tuesday night in Bismarck. They both held the positions during the 2023 legislative session.
Lefor faced a challenge from West Fargo Rep. Ben Koppelman. Hogue ran unopposed for the Senate leadership role.
In the Senate, Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden, was reelected assistant majority leader and Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, was reelected majority caucus leader.
In the House, Rep. Glenn Bosch, R-Bismarck, was reelected assistant House majority leader, Rep. Jeremy Olson, R-Arnegard, was elected majority caucus leader and Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield, was elected House speaker.
Caucus meetings are not open to the public unless they are held at the Capitol. Tuesday’s meetings were held away from the Capitol.
House Minority Leader Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, said Democrats are anticipating continuity of leadership, but elections will be held next month. The Democrats plan to hold caucus meetings during the first week of December when lawmakers are in Bismarck for the organizational session, Ista said.
Sen. Kathy Hogan, D-Fargo, was Senate minority leader in the 2023 session.
Republicans will continue to hold a supermajority in the Legislature. Republicans have 42 members in the Senate to five Democrats. In the House, there are 83 Republicans and 11 Democrats, according to unofficial election results.
The organizational session is Dec. 2-4. The 2025 legislative session starts Jan. 7.
This story has been updated with additional results.