Missouri Senate Republicans want President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, to keep that job for two more years.
Officially, the full chamber must elect him to the post when the 2015 legislative session begins Jan. 7.
And Democrats on Thursday chose Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, as the new minority caucus chair, succeeding Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.
She leaves the Senate at the end of the year because of term limits, and is planning to run for a seat on the Kansas City council.
Dempsey told reporters at a Capitol news conference: "Obviously, we're very pleased with the election results - I think they are a validation of the work that we have been doing in the Senate.
"One of the things that we're going to work on very quickly, I believe, will be addressing the agriculture bills that were vetoed (this year) - minus the captive cervids."
Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed that bill last summer because lawmakers had included a provision moving the regulation of "captive" deer from the Conservation Department to Agriculture, and the veto wasn't overridden during September's session.
"In addition to that, we're going to continue to work on those policies that are going to spur growth in our economy and get people working," Dempsey said. "And, finally will be our continued commitment to education, through funding and through policy."
Specifics of the GOP's legislative priority list will be decided during a party caucus next week, he said.
Keaveny said Democrats will continue to work with the Republicans as often as possible - but both sides have to listen to each other's ideas.
He told reporters: "I don't think we (Democrats) need to be openly confrontational all the time - I don't think that's constructive, at all.
"I like to think that calm, reasonable heads can come to a consensus. After all, we are all grown-ups here, and we can work things out."
But, he added: "As we get into the session, who knows where this is going to go."
When asked to be more specific about ideas that would improve Missouri's economy, Dempsey said: "Whether it be legal climate issues, tax policy, regulatory issues - I think there are a number of areas that we look at where, in many cases, government is keeping people from making investments."
Personally, Dempsey added: "I'd like to see us take another run at trying to move tax-credit reform. The Supreme Court's decision on tort reform has been detrimental to people staying in our state, working in our state or expanding in our state."
State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, again will be the GOP's assistant floor leader, behind Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin.
He said lawmakers need to talk more about transportation needs, after voters rejected a proposed sales tax increase last August.
"The problem hasn't gone away," Kehoe said. "I think what you found out as we went through the process to get to Aug. 5 with Amendment 7, Missourians agreed that we needed a funding solution - they just didn't agree with that particular way of doing it."
Kehoe said Missourians generally agree the state Transportation Department needs better funding to maintain existing roads and bridges, and build new ones where needed - but that years of talking still hasn't found a solution all can agree on.
"I think everything is on the table - and nobody likes to talk about the word "tax' or "gas tax,'" he said.
After the news conference, Sen.-elect Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, told the News Tribune: "Energy in general, obviously, is in that list" of priorities she'd like to see the Legislature work on next year. "And, obviously, the economic situation and job situation in the state - that's what everybody's talking about.
"What can we do to improve the climate for entrepreneurs who are here, so they can expand and increase. And how can we attract new ones?"