NASHVILLE (AP) - House Democrats have re-elected Rep. Craig Fitzhugh of Ripley as minority leader and named Rep. Mike Stewart of Nashville as caucus chairman.
Stewart replaces former Rep. Mike Turner, who retired this year, in the party's No. 2 leadership position.
Both Fitzhugh and Stewart were elected without opposition. Democrats hold 26 of 99 seats in the House, and several members expressed hope that this will be the smallest caucus they ever serve in.
Democrats lost their majority in the House in the 2008 elections and have suffered steady losses ever since.
House Democrats welcomed three new members to the caucus: Reps. Bill Beck and John Ray Clemmons of Nashville and Kevin Dunlap of McMinnville.
The numbers are even starker for Senate Democrats, who hold just five of 33 seats.