ATLANTA — The Republican leadership in the Georgia state Senate has decided to maintain its current team for the upcoming term. Following a successful election where all incumbent candidates secured their positions, the majority of Senate Republicans convened privately on Thursday to confirm their leaders for the next two years.
Senator John Kennedy from Macon has been nominated once again for the role of president pro tem, which is the second-highest position in the chamber. The full Senate is set to cast its vote for this position when it reconvenes for the new legislative session on January 13. Given that Republicans hold the same 33-23 majority as in the previous term, Kennedy’s election to this role appears highly probable.
After the nomination, Kennedy emphasized the close relationship the Senate Republican Caucus intends to maintain with Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, another Republican and former state senator. The majority party has granted Jones the authority to assign senators to committees, select committee chairs, and allocate legislation to different committees. These responsibilities allow a lieutenant governor to significantly influence legislation. Powers similar to these were curtailed in 2003 during a Republican initiative aimed at limiting then-Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor’s influence, and again in 2010 when GOP senators expressed dissatisfaction with Republican Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.
Kennedy expressed that Senate Republicans and Jones are largely in agreement on most issues, which fosters a productive working relationship. He noted the potential for Jones to run for governor in 2026. “This alignment creates a very effective collaborative environment, where we engage in meaningful discussions about proposed legislation and its progression,” Kennedy mentioned. He asserted that this arrangement does not denote ceding power to the lieutenant governor but rather signifies a strong partnership.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are set to gather on Friday in Savannah to elect a new leader, following the retirement announcement from Gloria Butler of Stone Mountain. In addition, House Republicans are anticipated to re-nominate Jon Burns of Newington as speaker next week, while House Democrats will be tasked with selecting a new minority leader.
Kennedy highlighted his desire for ongoing tax relief, citing it as a means to provide residents with some financial reprieve given the current economic climate and the state’s impressive financial reserve of $11 billion. “If we can return resources to the people while still delivering essential government services, that benefits those who have worked hard to contribute,” Kennedy stated.
Kennedy also urged lawmakers to identify solutions for addressing student absenteeism, a recurring challenge that has persisted since the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the Republican senators retained their entire slate of officers: Steve Gooch from Dahlonega as majority leader, Jason Anavitarte from Dallas as the majority caucus chair, Randy Robertson from Cataula as whip, Matt Brass from Newnan as vice caucus chairman, and Larry Walker III from Perry as secretary.