The Daily Digest (House DFLers to elect leaders, MNGOP to do post-mortem, Bachmann survives a scare)

Democrats in the Minnesota House will meet tonight to elect DFL Rep. Paul Thissen their new Speaker of the House. He has no challenger for the spot. Rep. Erin Murphy of St. Paul and Rep. Paul Marquart of Dilworth are running for Majority Leader.

The caucus election comes one day after Democrats took control of both chambers of the Legislature.

The big question is whether Democrats in the Legislature deliver on Dayton's top initiative (including taxes). Democrats are walking gingerly around the issue right now.

GOP House Speaker Kurt Zellers says he won't run for House Minority Leader. House Majority Leader Matt Dean says he's interested in the slot. They meet on Saturday to elect a new leader.

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Zellers downplayed suggestions that the two constitutional amendments helped boost DFL turnout and sink the Republican majorities. The Minnesota Business Partnership's Charlie Weaver told the AP that the moves were an "enormous mistake."

Here's a good breakdown of the newly elected Legislature.

Two legislative races are headed toward recounts.

The shift in power to the DFL means the federal health care law will be implemented in Minnesota.

Minnesota voters approved most school levy requests.

Race for Congress

GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann survived a scare from DFLer Jim Graves. Bachmann, who represents the most Republican district in the state, barely won on Tuesday night.

Republican Party

MPR says Republican Party officials are looking to do a post-mortem after losing some many key races in Minnesota.

There are fresh worries for the GOP as the electorate changes.

Politico asks whether the Super PACs and C(4)s backing Mitt Romney were a billion dollar bust? Romney contributor and Hubbard Broadcasting owner Stanley Hubbard has this quote: ""Obviously, somebody made a mistake and didn't do things right. There's no question about that," he said.

Voting

Minnesota had the highest voter turnout in the country.

Voter ID

One of the biggest surprises of the night is that the Voter ID amendment was defeated. MPR takes a look at how groups opposed to the measure defeated it.

Marriage Amendment

After defeating the amendment, opponents say there is still work to do. Some of that work is to allow same-sex couples to marry.

Washington D.C.

President Obama turns toward governing again.

He faces new urgent tasks as he prepares for a second term.

GOP House Speaker John Boehner says he'd consider a tax increase.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he's looking for a deal on averting he fiscal cliff, wants to address immigration reform and force a change to the filibuster rules.

Fixing the looming fiscal cliff could take time.

Economy

Stocks falter after fears of the fiscal cliff and Europe's debt crisis.

Minnesota's businesses and employees react to Obama's reelection.

2014

Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson is considering a run for governor.

Finally

There will not be a Digest on Friday.