Current:Home > MarketsNew Democratic minority leader in Georgia Senate promises strong push for policy goals-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
New Democratic minority leader in Georgia Senate promises strong push for policy goals
View Date:2024-12-23 20:05:08
ATLANTA (AP) — Sen. Harold Jones II was selected Friday to lead Georgia’s Senate Democratic caucus, promising to be aggressive in pushing policy goals despite Republicans maintaining a substantial majority in the chamber.
“We’re going to make sure we talk about working families in Georgia, those kitchen table issues that the Democratic Party is known for,” Jones said after he was selected at a Democratic retreat in Savannah.
The results of the November election meant that the state Senate will remain at 33 Republicans and 23 Democrats, after all incumbents won second terms. It was the first election after GOP mapmakers redrew Georgia’s 56 state Senate districts, resulting in little meaningful partisan competition for those offices.
Although Republican president-elect Donald Trump won the state, Jones said Georgia is still a swing state where Democrats hold influence. He noted that Medicaid expansion advanced in the Senate last year and promised that Democrats would continue to propel it forward.
“We’re the minority party,” Jones said. “We understand it takes time sometimes. We’re willing to wait it out to make sure we do what’s right for the people of Georgia.”
A lawyer from Augusta, Jones currently serves as the Democratic whip and secretary of the Ethics Committee.
Jones will take over the position from Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler, who announced she will retire after serving in the legislature for 26 years. She held caucus leadership roles for 19 of those years and served as the minority leader for four.
“The togetherness and the love that was shown today made me so proud to be a part of this conference,” Butler said after the party gathered to elect new leaders.
Butler said Democrats will stick to their usual agenda, including education, but that the “entire body has a gun issue to take care of,” after a shooting at Apalachee High School north of Atlanta. Democrats have pushed to expand financial aid for college students and funding for public schools. They are also trying to incentivize safe storage practices for guns.
Democrats also picked Sen. Kim Jackson of Stone Mountain to serve as Democratic whip; Sen. Elena Parent of Atlanta as chair; Sen. Sonya Halpern of Atlanta as vice chair; Sen. Jason Esteves of Atlanta as finance chair; and Sen. Nan Orrock of Atlanta as secretary.
Next week, House Democrats will pick a new minority leader after Rep. James Beverly of Macon announced he would step down. House Republicans will likely renominate Jon Burns of Newington as speaker.
Senate Republicans decided Tuesday to stick with their leadership, nominating Sen. John Kennedy of Macon for president pro tem, the second-ranking member of the chamber.
__
Russ Bynum contributed from Savannah.
__
Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon
veryGood! (148)
Related
- Birth control and abortion pill requests have surged since Trump won the election
- China doubles down on moves to mend its economy and fend off a financial crisis
- Investigation reveals Fargo gunman’s movements before deadly police shooting
- A landslide of contaminated soil threatens environmental disaster in Denmark. Who pays to stop it?
- A Pipeline Runs Through It
- Evacuations underway in northeast Illinois after ice jam break on river causes significant flooding
- Investigation reveals Fargo gunman’s movements before deadly police shooting
- Jannik Sinner ends 10-time champion Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten streak in Australian Open semifinals
- Advocates Expect Maryland to Drive Climate Action When Trump Returns to Washington
- University of California board delays vote over hiring immigrant students without legal status
Ranking
- West Virginia expands education savings account program for military families
- Congo rebel group kills at least 19 people in attack on eastern town
- Covering child care costs for daycare workers could fix Nebraska’s provider shortage, senator says
- Ukrainians worry after plane crash that POW exchanges with Russia will end
- Mississippi rising, Georgia falling in college football NCAA Re-Rank 1-134 after Week 11
- Look back at every Super Bowl halftime performer, including Michael Jackson, JLo, Beyonce
- JetBlue informs Spirit “certain conditions” of $3.8 billion buyout deal may not be met by deadline
- Italy’s leader denounces antisemitism; pro-Palestinian rally is moved from Holocaust Remembrance Day
Recommendation
-
Lane Kiffin puts heat on CFP bracket after Ole Miss pounds Georgia. So, who's left out?
-
Protesters gather outside a top Serbian court to demand that a disputed election be annulled
-
AP Week in Pictures: Asia
-
Tattoo artist Kat Von D didn’t violate photographer’s copyright of Miles Davis portrait, jury says
-
Kate Hudson and Goldie Hawn’s SKIMS Holiday Pajamas Are Selling Out Fast—Here’s What’s Still Available
-
Man accused of picking up teen fugitive following escape now facing charges, authorities say
-
Utah poised to become the next state to regulate bathroom access for transgender people
-
Rescuers race against the clock as sea turtles recover after freezing temperatures