Democrats who’ll be serving in the Iowa House next year met over the weekend and elected State Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City as their new leader.

Republicans have held a majority of seats in the Iowa House since 2011. Prichard rejects the idea he’s been elected to help Democrats rebuild the party in rural Iowa.

Prichard, who is an attorney, is also a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, with tours of duty in Kuwait, Iraq and Egypt. Prichard is among four men and two woman who were elected to leadership roles for Democrats in the Iowa House next year.