Kansas House Republicans on Monday promoted their No. 2 leader into the top job of speaker, while Democrats picked a veteran of state and local politics to lead them over a much younger relative newcomer.
State Rep. Dan Hawkins, of Wichita, faced no opposition among the 85 GOP House members and members-elect to his promotion. He's served four years as majority leader.
GOP unity behind Hawkins contrasted with a divide among Democrats. They voted 21-19 for state Rep. Vic Miller, 71, of Topeka, over Rep. Brandon Woodard, 32, of Lenexa.
The full House must ratify Hawkins' selection when lawmakers open their annual session Jan. 9, but that's a formality.
Hawkins, 62, replaces Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., of Olathe, who is retiring from the Legislature. Miller replaces state Rep. Tom Sawyer, of Wichita, who won reelection but stepped down as leader.
Miller has served 10 years in the House since 1979, filling a Senate vacancy briefly and holding jobs in the state Department of Revenue and local government in between three House stints. Woodard was first elected to the House in 2018.
