Current President John Valentine, R-Orem, is being challenged by Sen. Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville. Both won re-election Tuesday. The 21-member GOP caucus meets Friday night to vote on the same majority offices as the House.

Waddoups, who is making his third try for the top leadership spot, said Wednesday he was cautious about his chances. "You can't tell. Everything's in flux," he said. "I'm working hard, but I don't know how people are going to vote."

He sounded more confident in September, when he told the Deseret News that Valentine could have done a better job last session dealing with the controversy surrounding a comment from Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, that was widely seen as racist.

Buttars, a Republican from West Jordan, held on to his seat in Tuesday's election despite using the word "black" to negatively describe the "baby" being divided by a bill, saying, "This baby is black, I'll tell you. This is a dark and ugly thing."

Valentine has stood by his decision to label Buttars' comment a breach of decorum. He also has said he should be re-elected to a third, two-year term as Senate president because the state's budget woes require "consistency and stability, rather than volatility and change."

Waddoups also previously weighed in on another Senate GOP leadership race, for the No. 2 spot. Current Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, is being challenged by Majority Assistant Whip Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse.

In September, Waddoups said "there's a lot of people who feel Curt is abrasive ... He's been involved in several things that are probably not in the best interest of the Senate ... that doesn't help our image."

Bramble responded then, saying that his role as majority leader "is to effectively advocate the agenda of the (Senate GOP) caucus. I recognize my style is direct ... There are times when we're in tough negotiations."

It is always difficult to predict who will win the leadership contests. Often such races turn on just one or two votes, and since the ballots are secret, to preserve friendships and political alliances often leadership candidates are told of support that, when it comes down to it, they don't really have.

Current House Minority Whip David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, said he will run for minority leader when House Democrats meet a week from Thursday. He believes he will be unopposed. Others considering running for the three other minority leadership posts include Reps. Phil Riesen, D-Salt Lake; Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay; Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake; and Jen Seelig, D-Salt Lake.

Senate Democrats need to replace their longtime leader, retiring Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price. House Minority Leader Brad King, D-Price, lost his bid for Dmitrich's seat to Republican David Hinkins.

Senate Minority Whip Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake, said in September he would run for the minority leader spot.

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E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com; lisa@desnews.com