Minnesota House Democrats elected four-term Rep. Zack Stephenson to serve as their caucus leader late Monday almost three months after Melissa Hortman was killed by an assassin.

Hortman had led the House DFL since 2017, first as minority leader, then in a long stint as House speaker and then the main voice of the caucus in a tied chamber.

Stephenson, 41, was a close ally of Hortman and has been co-chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee this term. He previously led the House Commerce Committee and spearheaded notable legislation to legalize marijuana and to put controls on social media applications.

Stephenson said being chosen by his colleagues is an honor.

“Speaker Hortman is irreplaceable — as a leader, a strategist, a colleague and a friend,” he said in a news release. “Whil

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