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House Minority Leader Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, who has rankled Republicans more than many of his predecessors, was elected to a second term to that leadership post Tuesday night.
House Democrats also elected Rep. Joel Briscoe as the new minority whip, replacing Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, both D-Salt Lake City.
Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, will take over as the new assistant minority whip, replacing Briscoe. And Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City, replaces Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Millcreek, as the minority caucus manager.
"It's a tight-rope act," King said about his job — trying to build enough good will to pass bills with Republicans, who will hold a supermajority of 62-13 in the upcoming Legislature, but still clearly represent the views of Democrats.
He upset Republican leaders during his past term by saying they had shut out Democrats from discussions about whether to expand Medicaid for the poor, and strongly criticized GOP proposals.
Afterward, Republicans passed legislation to give the GOP control on two committees that previously had equal representation by the two political parties — the Legislative Audit Committee and the Legislative Management Committee.
Despite Democratic complaints that the move was to punish the minority party for King's comments, Republicans insisted the changes were meant to better reflect its supermajority.
"We have to walk the fine line of representing our constituents well and reflecting the views of Democrats across the state in a voice that is clear and unqualified, while at the same time working well with our colleagues, respecting their points of view, and finding common ground where we can," King said.
"There are times we simply are not going to agree," he said. "There's nothing wrong with that. That's a good thing."
He added that Utahns "want opposing points of view that yield better results than either side started with. That is the heart of the political proces. ... I anticipate more of that will happen, and I anticipate good legislation will come about largely because of that dynamic."
House Democrats picked up one seat after elections this year.
While House Republicans held their leadership elections on Nov. 14, Democrats held off until final vote counts settled some close elections — including Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, winning by three votes over Democrat Suzanne Harrison. That contest is currently undergoing a recount.