Anchorage Senator Johnny Ellis will be the Senate minority leader during the upcoming legislative session.
Ellis' office confirmed Monday that Ellis would be the Democratic leader during the session, beginning Tuesday.
Republicans took control of the Senate following the November elections, ending a bipartisan coalition that had ruled the chamber since 2007. The 20-member Senate had been divided evenly between Republicans and Democrats heading into the elections, with six Republicans joining the 10 Democrats to form the coalition.
This year, two Democrats - Senators Donny Olson of Nome and Dennis Egan of Juneau - plan to caucus with the 13 Republicans.
Ellis was first elected to the Senate in 1992. During the last Legislature, he served as Rules chairman.
