ATLANTA, Ga. — Control of the Georgia House of Representatives is shifting after Tuesday’s midterms, with Democrats crossing the majority line for the first time in 22 years and ending a Republican hold that dated to the mid-2000s.
Tallies posted by the Secretary of State put Democrats past the 91-vote mark required to organize the 180-seat chamber. Working counts cluster near 93 Democratic seats and 86 Republican seats, though at least one district remains close enough that a runoff could still matter.
The party gained roughly 10 seats and knocked off a dozen or more Republican incumbents. House Democratic Leader Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus Democrat and 34-year member who has led the caucus for two years, is the leading choice to become speaker. If colleagues back her, she would be the chamber’s first female speaker and its first speaker of color.
Speaker Jon Burns said several contests sit inside recount territory and pledged that his caucus will keep fighting for conservative priorities. His staff said it will coordinate a clean administrative handoff with whoever leads the new majority.
The chamber change lands beside Keisha Lance Bottoms’ win for governor. Across the rotunda, Republicans held the Senate 29 to 27, so bills will need bipartisan paths. Democratic leaders have already listed Medicaid expansion, lower household costs and aid for stressed rural hospitals among the first items they want on the table when the General Assembly returns in January.
Every House and Senate seat was on the ballot. Organizing votes and committee assignments will wait until the new membership is sworn in next year.
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