Brent Hill is the new pro-tem

Senate Republican leadership elections are done, and the new Senate President Pro-Tem is Sen. Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, who defeated Sen. Russ Fulcher, R-Meridian. Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, held his seat as majority leader over a challenge from Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton. But there was one upset: Assistant Majority Leader Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, lost to Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Meridian. For the caucus chair position opened up by Fulcher’s move to run for pro-tem, Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, was elected, defeating Sen. Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls.

McGee, who as caucus chairman is the spokesman for the caucus, said, “We have a lot of difficult decisions to make, and we feel like this leadership team is the right group to help make those difficult decisions.”