Election losses force changes in Georgia Senate GOP leadership

ATLANTA — The Republican majority in the Georgia Senate chose two new leaders after Democrats ousted two incumbent leaders in the Nov. 3 election, according a Senate announcement and unofficial election results.

Sen. Tim Bearden, R-Carrollton, will become majority caucus chairman for the 2027-28 biennium that starts in January.

Bearden will succeed Sen. Shawn Still, R-Suwanee, who lost reelection to Democrat Laura Murvartian.

Sen. Drew Echols, R-Gainesville, will become majority caucus vice chairman. He will succeed Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Buford, who lost reelection to Democrat Scott Tippetts.

The rest of the majority caucus’s leadership team will carry over from the current term, according to the Senate announcement on Monday. Sen. Larry Walker III, R-Perry, is the Republican nominee for president pro tempore, with the full Senate expected to elect him to a new term in January.

Sen. Jason Anavitarte, R-Dallas, will remain as majority leader. Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula, will remain as majority whip. Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, R-Marietta, will remain as majority caucus secretary.

One major change in the Senate is who will preside over it.

Sen. Josh McLaurin, D-Sandy Springs, defeated Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, in the race for lieutenant governor.

The position came open after Lt. Gov. Burt Jones ran for governor. Jones lost his bid for the Republican nomination in a June runoff against businessman Rick Jackson, who in turn lost the general election to Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.

Democrats also flipped four Senate seats, leaving Republicans with the narrowest possible majority.

There are 56 members of the Senate, and passing legislation requires a majority of the full membership, or 29 votes. Republicans have no cushion after winning 29 seats to Democrats’ 27.

Republicans will not be able to pass bills without support from at least one Democrat whenever a Republican is not present.

In addition to losing the seats held by Dixon and Still, Republicans lost seats held by Sen. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, and Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough.

Setzler lost to Democrat Darcy Castro.

Strickland’s seat was open because he ran for attorney general instead of seeking reelection. He lost to Rep. Tanya Miller, D-Atlanta. Bret Dunn, the Republican who ran to succeed Strickland, lost to Democrat Eric W. Lee Sr.