Republicans and Democrats in the Kansas House have chosen new leaders for the next session of the state legislature.

Republicans voted Monday to choose State Representative Dan Hawkins of Wichita as the new House Speaker.   He had no opposition among the 85 GOP House members.  Hawkins has served in the 100th District since 2013.   He will replace Speaker Ron Ryckman, Jr. of Olathe, who is retiring from the legislature.

The full House will have to vote to ratify the selection of Hawkins as Speaker when the legislative session begins on January 9th.

Democrats have chosen State Representative Vic Miller of Topeka as House Minority Leader.   Miller defeated Lenexa representative Brandon Woodard by a vote of 21-19.  Miller will replace State Representative Tom Sawyer of Wichita.  Sawyer was re-elected but decided to step down as the Democratic leader in the House.    Miller has served three times in the House since 1979, but he stepped away from the legislature at various times for positions in the Department of Revenue and in local government.   He also served in the Kansas Senate from 2019 to 2021.