ST. PAUL — Minnesota Senate Republicans meet in less than a week to choose a successor to fallen majority leader Amy Koch, but the politicking and campaigning for the job is happening almost entirely behind closed doors.

One potential candidate for the job compared it to the secretive process of picking a new pope. Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen said he is considering a bid when Senate Republicans meet next Tuesday, but he wouldn’t say for sure.

Other possible contenders include Sens. David Hann of Eden Prairie, Dave Senjem of Rochester, Julianne Ortman of Chanhassen and Joe Gimse of Willmar. But none has publicly committed.

Koch resigned the majority leader post last week after colleagues confronted her with allegations of an improper relationship with a Senate employee. Koch later admitted the relationship.