Winona's Jeremy Miller to lead Senate GOP caucus

jeremy miller
Sen. Jeremy Miller, R-Winona, speaks to reporters on Sept. 9, 2021, the morning after he was elected leader of the Minnesota Senate Republican caucus.
Tim Pugmire | MPR News

Updated 10:55 a.m.

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate have picked Winona Sen. Jeremy Miller to lead their caucus.

The 34-member caucus and two affiliated independents selected Miller as their leader Wednesday night. It's an initial step toward officially naming him majority leader, which will require a formal resolution when the Senate meets in session again.

Miller said he and other Republicans have a similar vision.

“We just want to get good things done for the people of the state of Minnesota,” Miller said. “I feel like I’m well-positioned to work within our caucus as well as with members across the aisle to get that done, including the governor.”

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Miller said he would work across the aisle to get things done and that he has a good relationship with DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman.

First elected in 2010, Miller, 38, has been Senate president since 2019, at the time the youngest senator in state history to hold that position. A husband and father of three, he works for his family's metal recycling business based in Winona.

Miller succeeds Paul Gazelka of East Gull Lake who stepped down last week and announced a run for the GOP gubernatorial nomination on Wednesday.

The Senate DFL caucus is also planning a leadership election after Minority Leader Susan Kent of Woodbury stepped down last week.