State House Speaker Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo Valley, Wilhelmina Rise), locked down enough votes over the weekend to keep control of the House.

Say and other Democrats are still discussing the leadership team and committee chairmanships, with an announcement expected later.

"We head into one of the most challenging legislative sessions that Hawai'i has ever faced, and it's extremely important that we come together, with the Senate, to focus on our first priorities: a balanced state budget and Hawai'i's economy," Say said in a statement. "I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the House for the next two years. As soon as organization is completed, we will start work immediately."

A group of dissidents, led by state Rep. Sylvia Luke, D-26th (Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl), has been trying to unseat Say since 2004, and the emergence of a middle group concerned about the bitterness between the factions gave dissidents hope this year.

Last week, dissidents described the leadership struggle in the 45-member Democratic caucus as a stalemate, but the speaker's allies were confident he would prevail.

Say, first elected to the House in 1976, has been speaker since 1998.