Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb was re-elected today to another term as the top GOP lawmaker in the Democratic-dominated Assembly.

Kolb, who took over the job during Jim Tedisco’s unsuccessful run in 2009 for the Congressional seat vacated by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, said it was “truly humbling” to be re-elected.

“From helping New York City and Long Island families rebuild and recover from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, to meeting the demand for more jobs and a more competitive economy, to the urgent need to protect taxpayers and local governments from Albany’s costly rules and regulations that drive up property taxes, there is no shortage of challenges facing our state,” Kolb said in a statement. “No matter how steep the climb, I have complete confidence that our Conference is equal to the task. We will continue serving as a voice for hard-working families and focus on real solutions that further our shared values of opportunity, prosperity, community and a better quality of life for all New Yorkers.”

Assembly Republicans lost their hold on at least four district, not including the newly created one on Long Island which also fell to Democrats.

The Assembly Republicans, in the minority since the Watergate era, are viewed as a largely powerless voting bloc in the chamber, but they are able to get their points across in floor debates and news conferences. For Kolb, R-Canandaigua, his cause has been to push for a new state Constitution.

Last year, he faced pressure from Gov. Andrew Cuomo to have his conference unanimously approve a tax code overhaul, which several Republicans ended up voting against.

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