Senate GOP leader intends to step down from leadership if he runs for governor By: Ricardo Lopez - July 29, 2021 5:20 pm Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka speaks during a press conference on Jun 2, 2021. Photo by Ricardo Lopez/Minnesota Reformer. Senate Republicans could soon face a leadership contest because Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, has pledged to step down as leader if he decides to run for governor, according to two people with direct knowledge of caucus deliberations. Sources, who were granted anonymity to speak freely about internal caucus deliberations, say Gazelka’s preferred successor is state Sen. John Jasinski, R-Faribault, but he currently may lack the votes to ascend to leadership.