In Georgia, the Democratic Party’s state House members appointed new leadership on Thursday, marking a shift in their approach after the minority party made only modest advancements in the recent elections held on November 5.
Columbus’s Carolyn Hugley has been appointed as the minority leader for the next two years, with the appointment of new officials signaling a departure from the previous leadership under James Beverly of Macon. Following her election in a private meeting, Hugley expressed her commitment to a majority-oriented mindset and a focus on member engagement. “We’re going to be majority minded, we’re going to be member focused, and we’re going to continue to work,” she stated to the press.
In the recent elections, Democrats secured 80 out of the 180 available seats in the lower chamber of the General Assembly, a slight increase from the 78 seats held prior to the election. Although this reflects some progress, the party had ambitions for greater victories. Notably, Democratic incumbent Farooq Mughal from Dacula lost his seat, while other Democratic candidates in regions outside of metro Atlanta won by narrow margins.
Hugley successfully defeated Rep. Derrick Jackson of Tyrone for the minority leader position and witnessed changes in other leadership roles. Former caucus chair Billy Mitchell of Stone Mountain was replaced by second-term Rep. Tanya Miller from Atlanta. Whip Sam Park from Lawrenceville retained his position after defeating a challenge from Rep. Jasmine Clark of Lilburn. Additionally, Spencer Frye of Athens was appointed as vice chair, while Saira Draper from Atlanta became Deputy whip. Park Cannon of Atlanta continues to serve as caucus secretary, and Solomon Adesanya of Marietta remains as treasurer.
Tanya Miller noted, “We are taking stock of what happened in this last election,” highlighting that the new leadership reflects a desire for change in perspective and strategy to help the Democrats secure a majority. Hugley, who previously tried for the top Democratic post three times, affirmed that persistence pays off, stating, “My parents would say a no is not necessarily no. It might just mean not yet. So today was the day for my yes.”
Republicans maintained their current leadership structure in the House, keeping Speaker Jon Burns of Newington along with other officials, while Senate Republicans elected to retain Speaker Pro Tem John Kennedy of Macon and their existing leadership team. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, elevated Harold Jones II of Augusta to minority leader after the retirement of Gloria Butler from Stone Mountain.
The House Democratic caucus faced turmoil following allegations that Beverly had sexually harassed a staff member; however, an investigation could not validate these claims. Rep. Shea Roberts from Sandy Springs stepped down from her position as Democratic Caucus treasurer in protest of the situation, resulting in divisions within the House Democrats’ campaign strategies. Hugley emphasized the importance of unity among Democrats moving forward. “We’re going to move forward in unity,” she affirmed.
Several newly elected candidates pointed to the necessity of prioritizing membership growth over other strategic concerns. They indicated that leadership must focus predominantly on fundraising and attracting robust candidates for the 2026 elections. Hugley remarked on her past experiences in the caucus when numbers were much lower, stating, “I was part of this caucus when we were in the 60s in terms of numbers, but now we are at 80 and we’re going to continue to move forward.”
In addition to fundraising and recruitment efforts, Hugley mentioned that the party would persist in advocating for crucial issues such as healthcare, education, and economic security for all. However, she did hint at adjustments in the issues that Democrats prioritize in light of the recent statewide loss suffered during the election. “People all across the state are looking to Democrats for leadership because of the losses nationally,” she explained. “And so our caucus is ready to stand in the gap and fill that void. We’re going to reconstruct our Democratic agenda to reflect the challenges that citizens face.”
