DES MOINES (AP) - The Iowa Democratic Party chose Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson Saturday as its new leader. Pederson becomes chairwoman immediately.

"I look forward to serving as the state party's chair and carrying the Democratic message across the state," Pederson said in a prepared statement. "I think it is important we work very hard to keep those first-time voters and other reinvigorated Democrats active and engaged."

The Democratic State Central Committee convened to replace Des Moines lawyer Gordon Fischer, who is stepping down from the post.

Pederson received the endorsement of Gov. Tom Vilsack and Senate Democratic Leader Michael Gronstal of Council Bluffs. She is expected to face huge challenges, the foremost of which is preserving Iowa's first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses. A party commission is studying the primary calendar.

Losing those caucuses would deal a blow to both parties, which have used the national attention drawn by the Iowa Caucuses to build party operations that are among the best organized and financed in the nation.

She will also face bitter feelings that linger after Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry lost the state, while some of the party's state candidates successfully defeated Republicans for legislative seats. Some Democrats were unhappy about how money allocated to Iowa from the Democratic National Committee was spent.

Pederson said she understands the hostility.

"I just think there's a natural tension as to how all those interests are served," she said.

Pederson is a native of Vinton and a graduate of Iowa State University. She is a former executive at Meredith Corporation in Des Moines, where she was the senior food editor for Better Homes and Gardens. She was elected lieutenant governor in 1998 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002.

The Central Committee also chose Rob Tully of Des Moines as first vice chairman and Sara Swisher of Iowa City as second vice chairwoman. Jim Hutter of Ames is the committee secretary and Ken Sagar of Des Moines is treasurer.