Topeka ? So-called moderate Republicans in the Kansas Senate held the upper hand Monday after the caucus elected its leaders for the legislative session that starts next month.

But through a series of tie votes, some of which had to be resolved with coin flips, it was apparent Senate Republicans are deeply divided.

“It’s obvious with all the tie votes, we need to improve, more than ever, the need to work together as a caucus,” said state Sen. Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, who was elected Senate president.

Republicans hold a 30-10 advantage over Democrats in the Senate, so the GOP caucus essentially elects leaders of that chamber. The elections will be formally finalized Jan. 10 when the 2005 legislative session starts.

“The Senate Republican caucus is very, very evenly split,” said state Sen. Karin Brownlee, R-Olathe.

Brownlee is considered a conservative. She and state Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, battled through seven rounds of tie 15-15 votes for the position of assistant majority leader. Finally, Brownlee won 16-14 on the eighth ballot.

So-called moderates, however, won all the top positions.

Morris defeated state Sen. Nick Jordan, R-Shawnee 17-13; state Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, defeated state Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, 18-12, for majority leader; state John Vratil, R-Leawood, defeated state Sen. Les Donovan, R-Wichita, 16-14, for vice president; and state Sen. Jean Schodorf, R-Wichita, defeated state Sen. Phill Journey, R-Haysville, 16-13 for majority whip.

Two positions on a Senate rules making committee ended up in multitude of tie votes; two of which had to be resolved with a coin flip.

On the House side, Speaker Doug Mays, R-Topeka, and Majority Leader Clay Aurand, R-Courtland, were re-elected by Republicans to those positions. State Rep. Ray Merrick, R-Stillwell was elected speaker pro tem to replace John Ballou, who was defeated in the August GOP primary.

Democrats were also selecting leaders Monday.

Sen. Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, won another term as Senate minority leader. And Rep. Dennis McKinney, D-Greensburg, was re-elected as House minority leader.