Cedar Rapids Gazette: Senate Democrats are sticking with their leaders but House Democrats will have a new representative in charge when the 88th General Assembly opens its two-year run in January with Republicans again controlling both chambers and the governor’s office. Iowa House Democrats will meet Saturday afternoon to choose a replacement for House Minority Leader Mark Smith of Marshalltown, who told colleagues he was stepping down as their leader. Senate Democrats, who return to the Capitol Jan. 14 with an 18-member caucus, re-elected Des Moines Sen. Janet Petersen to serve as their leader and kept Mason City Sen. Amanda Ragan as minority whip.