OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State Sen. Andrew Rice has been chosen Democratic leader-elect by the Senate's Democratic caucus.
Rice, of Oklahoma City, will take over as leader of the Senate's minority party in 2011. Current Democratic Leader Charlie Laster of Shawnee will continue as leader next year but will step down after the 2010 elections. Laster has served as Democratic floor leader since January of 2007.
Rice says he wants to lead Senate Democrats back to majority status during the next election cycle. Democrats controlled the chamber until Republicans gained majority status for the first time in state history in the 2008 elections.
Rice, who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate last year, was elected to the state Senate in 2006 with nearly 70 percent of the vote.
