Indiana House Republicans Elect New Majority Leader

INDIANAPOLIS -- House Republicans Tuesday elected a new majority leader, one of the highest ranking positions in the caucus.  The move came after Rep. Jud McMillin resigned from the position last week amid a sex scandal.

House Speaker Brian Bosma admitted the last week has been a tough one for the Republican caucus, after McMillin abruptly resigned.  But he says electing Rep. Matt Lehman, a seven-year veteran of the General Assembly, to floor leader brings stability to the caucus.

“He seeks to find solutions; he’s not a flashy person and that’s what our caucus needs right now,” Bosma said.

Bosma notes that Lehman is a calm, measured presence – and Lehman says that won’t change with his new role.

“I am who I am.  I’m from the little, small town of Berne, Indiana," Lehman said. "And probably not a lot comes out of Berne, Indiana but I do.”

The caucus only needed one round of votes to elect Lehman as the new floor leader; Shelbyville Rep. Sean Eberhart was the other candidate.