NASHVILLE -- Voters last week had their say over which political party will run Tennessee's state House, handing Republicans a 64-34 majority over Democrats.
Now there's a struggle within the Republican and Democratic caucuses to decide who will lead the troops in the 107th General Assembly that convenes in January.
On the House Republicans' side there's a contest for one of the most powerful positions in the chamber -- majority leader.
A Chattanooga lawmaker, Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, is seeking the post. So is Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol.
The majority leader is the point person for his or her party on the House floor and is heavily involved in political strategy and timing of legislation coming to the floor. The leader works closely with party leaders and committee chairmen, and he will push the legislative package for Republican Gov.-elect Bill Haslam's administration.
McCormick said the Republican gain of 14 House seats Tuesday was a significant victory.
"Now we've got the responsibility of governing," McCormick said.
A U.S. Army veteran of the first Gulf War, McCormick is a co-owner of the Chattanooga-based real estate development and brokerage firm Fleetwood Development.
Now the House Republican assistant leader, McCormick said his ability to work with colleagues and his experience in pushing and forcefully defending a GOP agenda make him best suited to be majority leader.
McCormick originally had his eyes on the No. 1 spot, House speaker, but now is backing Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, of College Grove, for the job.
Lundberg, now the floor leader, agreed with McCormick that "there's a great deal of responsibility on the GOP to truly govern."
"I think my strongest selling point is leadership," Lund-berg said.
He has served as president of several companies over the past 17 years. Among them are the Corporate Image, a public relations firm he founded in 1993, and Corporate Marketing Group, an advertising agency. He is a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
"I think I can bring continuity to the caucus, direction," Lundberg said.
Republicans won a 50-49 majority in 2008 but saw the speakership slip away from their chosen candidate when Rep. Kent Williams, R-Elizabethton, voted with all 49 Democrats and made himself speaker. Williams was bounced out of the GOP.
Now Republicans have won what they think is a coalition-proof majority. Williams said he is not running for speaker again.
In that race, Casada faces Rep. Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, a former state Republican Party chairwoman. Rep. Harry Brooks, R-Knoxville, has said he's interested in the job but was vague last week on whether he still intended to pursue it.
Meanwhile, Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, who initially weighed a bid for speaker, said he is running for speaker pro tempore. Rep. Jimmy Eldridge, R-Jackson, may seek the post too.
Among House Democrats, Caucus Chairman Mike Turner, of Nashville, said he is weighing another bid for the chairman slot or going for House minority leader.
But current minority leader Gary Odom, of Nashville, is also expected to run for re-election.
Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, is expected to seek the caucus chairmanship.