Kansas House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ron Ryckman Jr., center, R-Olathe, confers with fellow committee members and Reps. Gene Suellentrop, left, R-Wichita, and Marvin Kleeb, right, R-Overland Park, before a House debate on a budget-balancing plan, late Sunday, May 1, 2016, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna).

Topeka ? The newly elected speaker of the Kansas House has advised incoming lawmakers to avoid cliques.

Republican Rep. Ron Ryckman has encouraged new lawmakers to avoid sticking to one of the competing groups within the state Republican Party, the Wichita Eagle reported.

Conservatives and moderates have fought for control of the party for decades. Under Gov. Sam Brownback, the conservative wing has been dominant in recent years. But more moderates made major gains in this year’s election and could cast deciding votes as lawmakers grapple with the state’s budget shortfall and work to create a new school finance formula.

The state currently faces a nearly $350 million budget gap for the fiscal year, making that a priority to address.

Newly elected Republican Rep. Leo Delperdang said the two sides will have to come together.

“They don’t have a choice, because if they don’t — and you can quote this — there’s going to be a bloodbath in two years,” he said.

Ryckman, a Johnson County businessman, is currently the House budget committee’s chairman. He was chosen by House Republicans on Monday to be the new speaker, and he will officially take over that role in January.

He said he wants to change the House’s culture to fix the budget problem.

“I think a lot of it starts with building trust with the different caucus members and providing a climate where there’s a lot of listening … where we can come together and have pragmatic solutions that do solve our budget issues,” Ryckman said.