DES MOINES (AP) — House Republicans on Monday elected Hiawatha lawyer Kraig Paulsen as minority leader, making a change after four straight election losses.

Paulsen ousted Christopher Rants in a private meeting of House Republicans at the Statehouse.

“I’m excited about the honor the caucus has given me,” Paulsen said, adding the he looks forward to working with Rants. “I’m looking forward to his guidance and assistance along the way.”

House Democrats planned to meet later in the week.

Rants had been a GOP leader in the House since the party gained a majority in 1992, first as majority leader and then as speaker. Since gaining a 56-44 edge in 2000, Rants has presided over Republican losses in each of the elections that followed.

With a couple of races yet to be settled pending likely recounts, last week’s election left House Democrats with a 56-44 majority, a gain of three seats.

Paulsen said Republicans were continuing talks about whether to change their message and tactics.

“We haven’t completed the discussion about our message,” said Paulsen.

In seeking another two-year term, Rants pointed to his ability to raise campaign money and his tactical experience as a floor leader. That argument lost out to Paulsen’s call for a fresh approach.

Also Monday, House Republicans elected Rep. Linda Upmeyer, of Garner, as the minority whip. New assistant leaders will be Reps. Rod Roberts, of Carroll; Jeff Kaufmann, of Wilton; Steve Lukan, of New Vienna; and Jodi Tymeson, of Winterset.

In the Senate, Republicans planned to gather next Monday to discuss their leadership team.

One Senate race hasn’t been decided, as provisional ballots are counted in a race between Democratic Sen. Jeff Danielson of Cedar Falls and Republican challenger Walt Rogers.

If Danielson’s narrow lead holds up, Democrats would have a 32-18 margin in the Senate, their largest majority ever and a gain of two seats.

That’s put pressure on Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City, who had warned in advance the party faced a tough election. There was a lot of quiet grumbling among Senate Republicans, and Wieck said he wouldn’t be surprised by a challenge at next week’s meeting.

Fewer changes are expected among Democrats when House members meet Wednesday, followed by their Senate colleagues on Sunday.

House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, engineered the gains in last week’s election and aren’t being challenged. The same holds true for Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, and Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg.

There likely will be jostling for assistant leader posts and heading of key committees.

Democrats also must begin wrestling with a slowing economy that presents budget problems even as the state faces a big tab from last summer’s record flooding.