Photo: @repcarolynhugley/Instagram
Georgia House Democrats have selected State Rep. Carolyn Hugley as their nominee for speaker, positioning her to become the first Black woman to hold the position.
According to CBS News Atlanta, Hugley, a Democrat representing Columbus, was chosen Thursday (November 12) after her party secured control of the House for the first time in more than two decades. The full chamber is scheduled to vote on her nomination January 11, 2027.
Hugley, who has served in the Georgia General Assembly since 1993, currently holds the position of House minority leader, CBS News Atlanta reported. If elected, she would succeed Republican Jon Burns, who has led the chamber since 2023.
During her time in the legislature, Hugley became the first Black lawmaker to serve as House minority whip, a position she held from 2003 to 2018, according to her website. She has also chaired the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Committee and the Women's Legislative Caucus.
Her legislative work has included sponsoring bills addressing bullying, anti-stalking protections and protections for veterans' widows, according to her official state biography.
Speaking at a press conference at the state Capitol Thursday, Hugley said Democrats must deliver on the opportunity Georgia voters had given them.
"We cannot settle for business as usual after all the what we've done to get here," she said, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting. "We didn't come this far to settle into new titles and new offices and get that new letterhead. We're here because Georgia has given us the opportunity to deliver for them."
Hugley's potential election would also bring greater representation to one of the state's most powerful political positions, which has historically been held by white men. The Courier News emphasized the significance of a Black woman from the Chattahoochee Valley reaching that level of leadership, particularly for young Black girls who rarely see people who look like them in positions of political power.
Republicans will retain control of the state Senate, meaning Democrats will need to work across party lines to advance their legislative agenda.
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