ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota House Republicans have picked Rep. Kurt Daudt as their new minority leader.

The 39-year-old was chosen Saturday during a five-hour caucus meeting. His selection comes a day after Republicans in the state Senate picked fourth-termer David Hann to lead their caucus in the upcoming Minnesota legislative session.

Like Hann, Daudt says he’s ready to work with Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton. He says the parties have shown they can work together and he hopes to continue finding common ground.

Daudt is a party activist from Isanti County. He was elected to the House in 2010 and had served as an assistant majority leader.

Democratic Rep. Erin Murphy of St. Paul is the House majority leader.

In this week’s election, Republicans lost the majority they had for only two years.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)