Politics
Georgia House Democrats Nominate Carolyn Hugley for Speaker, First Black Woman to Hold Post
Rep. Carolyn Hugley of Columbus was nominated by House Democrats as speaker, becoming the first Black person and first woman nominated to a full term in Georgia history. With Democrats holding a narrow 92-seat majority, Hugley pledges to prioritize Medicaid expansion and cost-of-living relief.
ATLANTA â Georgia House Democrats nominated Rep. Carolyn Hugley of Columbus as their candidate for speaker on Thursday, a historic pick that would make her the first Black person and the first woman to hold the chamber's top post for a full term.
The nomination, made during a caucus meeting on the House floor, comes as Democrats prepare to take control of the House for the first time since 2004. Assuming unofficial election results are certified, Democrats will hold 92 of the chamber's 180 seats â a one-seat cushion over the 91 votes required by the Georgia Constitution to pass legislation.
Hugley, who has represented the Columbus area for more than three decades, said expanding Medicaid would be "first and foremost" on the House agenda. She said Democrats were eager to work with Democratic Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms on that goal as part of a broader push to address the cost of living.
"We built a team that looks like Georgia," Hugley said. "It listens to Georgia. And we intend to fully represent all Georgians."
The caucus also nominated Rep. Billy Mitchell, D-Stone Mountain, as speaker pro tempore. Both Hugley and Mitchell, who is also Black, await confirmation votes by the full House when lawmakers convene in January.
Hugley is in line to succeed Republican Speaker Jon Burns of Newington. She would be the first woman nominated to a full term as speaker; Rep. Jan Jones, R-Milton, previously served as acting speaker from late 2022 into early 2023.
The rest of the Democratic leadership team was named Thursday: Rep. Stacey Evans of Atlanta as majority leader, Rep. Sam Park of Lawrenceville as majority whip, Rep. Spencer Frye of Athens as majority caucus chair, Rep. Imani Barnes of Tucker as vice-chair, Rep. Anissa Jones of Macon as secretary, Rep. Robert Flournoy of Hampton as treasurer, and Rep. Bryce Berry of Atlanta as chief deputy whip.
The leadership slate includes three women, two of whom are Black, and four men, two of whom are Black and one of whom is Asian American.
The narrow majority follows a closely watched race in Seminole County, where officials discovered an overlooked election machine memory card after Election Day. The 388 ballots on the card, uploaded Nov. 6, flipped the apparent outcome in a House race, putting incumbent Rep. Gerald Greene, R-Cuthbert, back in the lead over Democrat Harry James. That result, if it holds, leaves Democrats with a one-seat margin. A runoff in a separate race involving an independent candidate could expand the Democratic majority.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has until Nov. 20 to certify the results after local election officials certified them Monday.
Once confirmed, Hugley's first tasks will include naming chairs of the House's 44 committees, a process that will shape the chamber's legislative priorities on Medicaid, health care access, and economic relief for working families.