Bedke, Moyle win; Senate sticks with status quo

Republican Rep. Scott Bedke ascended to the House speaker job after a secret vote that ejected Rep. Lawerence Denny from a leadership post he’s held for six years.

Also, House Majority Leader Mike Moyle was re-elected.

Bedke’s victory Wednesday signals that his message of pragmatic conservatism resonated over Denney’s harder-line insistence on loyalty.

On the Senate side, majority Republicans stuck with their existing leadership team, as Majority Leader Bart Davis, Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder and Caucus Chairman Russ Fulcher all survived challenges.

Rexburg’s Brent Hill will retain his role as President Pro Tem of the Senate.

House and Senate Democrats elected their leaders, too.

House Minority Leader John Rusche was reaffirmed, while Michelle Stennett will lead the Senate’s seven-member minority.