As I prepped you this morning, the House and Senate GOP caucuses met today to choose new leadership. The House met this morning and maintained all eligible incumbents in current leadership posts, plus re-nominated Speaker David Ralston to continue (a position that is elected by the entire House).

Trey Kelley will serve as the new Majority Whip, replacing Christian Coomer who is now an Appeals Court Judge. Micah Gravley will be the new Vice Chairman of the Caucus, replacing Sam Teasley.

On the Senate side, there has been a successful challenge to Majority Leader Bill Cowsert. Mike Dugan will now assume that title. Steve Gooch has been re-elected to serve as Majority Whip. Lindsey Tippens will be replaced by Larry Walker as Vice Chairman of the caucus.

Butch Miller remains the nominee as Senate President Pro Tempore (to be elected by full Senate), as John Kennedy remains Senate GOP Caucus Chairman.

Press release from the House on their elections is below. Will add the Senate’s version when one is available.

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ATLANTA – The House Republican Caucus met today and elected its key leaders. The Majority Caucus nominated House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) and House Speaker Pro-Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton) as the caucus nominees for their current positions.

The Majority Caucus re-elected the following positions:

State Rep. Jon Burns (R-Newington), House Majority Leader;
State Rep. Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin), House Majority Caucus Chairman;
State Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe), House Majority Caucus Secretary and Treasurer.
The Majority Caucus also elected State Rep. Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown) as the new House Majority Whip and State Rep. Micah Gravley (R-Douglasville) as the new House Majority Caucus Vice-Chairman.

Representative David Ralston represents the citizens of District 7, which includes Fannin and Gilmer counties, as well as portions of Dawson County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves as Speaker of the House.

Representative Jan Jones represents the citizens of District 47, which includes portions of Fulton County. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves as House Speaker Pro-Tempore. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education and the Education, Ethics, Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment, Regulated Industries and Rules committees.

Representative Jon Burns represents the citizens of District 159, which includes portions of Bulloch, Effingham and Screven counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006 and currently serves as House Majority Leader. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Economic Development & Tourism, Ethics, Game, Fish & Parks, Rules and Transportation committees.

Representative Trey Kelley represents the citizens of District 16, which includes portions of Bartow, Haralson and Polk counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Ways and Means Committee and Secretary of the Higher Education and Judiciary committees. He also serves on the Code Revision, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications and Health & Human Services committees.

Representative Matt Hatchett represents the citizens of District 150, which includes portions of Johnson, Laurens and Treutlen counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as House Majority Caucus Chairman. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and the Economic Development & Tourism, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Ethics, Health & Human Services and Rules committees.

Representative Micah Gravley represents the citizens of District 67, which includes portions of Douglas and Paulding counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Code Revision Committee and Secretary of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and the Economic Development & Tourism, Juvenile Justice and Public Safety & Homeland Security committees. He is also a member of the Medical Cannabis working group.

Representative Bruce Williamson represents the citizens of District 115, which includes portions of Walton County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as Secretary and Treasurer of the House Majority Caucus. He also serves on the Banks and Banking, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Governmental Affairs, Insurance, Rules and Ways and Means committees.

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ATLANTA (November 13, 2018) | Today, the Georgia Senate Majority Caucus nominated Senator Butch Miller (R – Gainesville) to continue in his role as President Pro Tempore of the Georgia Senate.

“I am grateful to each of my colleagues for continuing to entrust me with this leadership position,” said Sen. Miller. “I believe that the future for our great state is bright and that by working with our incoming administration and friends in the House, we can continue to make Georgia the best place in the nation for business, economic development and a place for our citizens to call home. I am humbled by this honor and look forward to serving each of my 55 colleagues, the 49th district and every Georgian under the Gold Dome.”

Sen. Butch Miller was elected to the Georgia Senate in 2010 to represent the 49th Senate District, which is comprised of the majority of Hall County. Sen. Miller serves as a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking and Financial Institutions, Ethics, MARTOC, Regulated Industries and Utilities and Rules Committees. He also serves as Ex-Officio on the Government Oversight Committee. This is Sen. Miller’s second nomination to serve as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia Senate. His nomination will be voted upon by the entire Senate at the convening of the 2019 Legislative Session.

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Senate Majority Caucus Elects Leadership

ATLANTA (November 13, 2018) | On Tuesday, the Georgia Senate Majority Caucus nominated and elected the following leadership positions:

Re – Elected Positions:

· Sen. Butch Miller (R – Gainesville) as the caucus nominee for Senate President Pro Tempore.

· Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega) as Majority Caucus Whip.

· Sen. John Kennedy (R – Macon) as Majority Caucus Chair.

· Sen. John Wilkinson (R – Toccoa) as Majority Caucus Secretary.

Newly Elected Positions:

· Sen. Mike Dugan (R – Carrollton) as the new Senate Majority Leader.

· Sen. Larry Walker (R – Perry) as the new Majority Caucus Vice-Chair.

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Sen. Butch Miller serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia Senate. He represents the 49th Senate District, which includes portions of Hall County. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or by email at [email protected].

Sen. Mike Dugan serves as the Senate Majority Leader. He represents the 30th Senate District which includes portions of Carroll, Douglas and Paulding counties. He can be reached at 404.463.2478 or by email at [email protected].

Sen. Steve Gooch serves as Majority Whip of the Senate Majority Caucus. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union and White counties and portions of Forsyth and Pickens counties. He may be reached at 404.656.9221 or via email at [email protected].

Sen. John F. Kennedy serves as Majority Caucus Chairman. He represents the 18th Senate District which includes Upson, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, and portions of Macon-Bibb and Houston Counties. He may be reached at 404.656.7454 or by email at [email protected].

Sen. Larry Walker serves as the Majority Caucus Vice-Chair. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Houston, Laurens and Pulaski counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.7454 or by email at [email protected]

Sen. John Wilkinson serves as Chairman of the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and Vice Chairman of the Education and Youth Committee. He represents the 50th Senate District which includes Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens and Towns counties and portions of Hall and Jackson counties. He can be reached by phone at 404.463.5257 or by email at [email protected].