# Georgia State Senate

The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly, in the U.S. state of Georgia. The Georgia State Senate and the lower house of the General Assembly, the Georgia House of Representatives, comprise the bicameral legislature of the state. Combined, the Senate and the House maintain authority under Article III. of the 1983 Constitution of Georgia to enact laws "necessary and proper for the welfare of the state", although state law is subordinate to the state constitution, the United States Constitution, and federal law.
Like most upper houses in the United States, the Senate has the exclusive power to confirm various appointments made by the Governor of Georgia, and to try cases of impeachment brought by the House. The Senate is often considered a springboard for those ultimately seeking higher office; all of the state's most recent governors have served in the State Senate.

## Legal provisions

The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly, with the lower house being the Georgia House of Representatives. Both bodies are constitutionally required to convene annually at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. The General Assembly begins each yearly session on the second Monday in January. From that date of convention, sessions last for 40 legislative days.
The General Assembly may call for special sessions by a three-fifths vote of the members in each chamber. Special sessions in Georgia may span a maximum of 40 days.

### Membership requirements

The Georgia State Senate consists of 56 members, each representing a single-member legislative district of equal size with the others. State senators serve a term length of two years, with elections being held in even-numbered years. Senators officially assume their positions on the second Monday in January following their election.
To serve in the Senate, an individual must have attained the age of 25. The person must also be a qualified voter who has resided in the state of Georgia for at least two years. Unlike most states, senators are not required to have lived in their districts for a specific period of time before running.

### Leadership

The formal President of the State Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, who is elected statewide every four years. Other important figures in the Senate include the President pro tempore (who is elected by all members of the Senate), as well as the Majority Leader, Majority Whip, and Majority Caucus Chair (each of whom are elected by the majority of what is currently the Republican caucus).
The minority party is headed by the Minority Leader, who is elected by the minority party caucus.

### Compensation

The current salary for state senators is $17,342. The Majority Leader and Minority Leader earn an additional $400 per month.

## Officers

The presiding officer of the Senate is the president of the Senate. A president pro tempore, usually a high-ranking member of the majority party, acts as president in case of the temporary disability of the president. In case of the death, resignation, or permanent disability of the President or in the event of the succession of the president to the executive power, the President pro tempore becomes President. The Senate also has as an officer, the secretary of the Senate.
As of January 2025, the majority and minority leadership is as follows:
| Office | Officeholder | Party |
| Lt. Governor and senate president | Burt Jones | Republican |
| President pro tempore | John F. Kennedy | Republican |
| Majority leader | Steve Gooch | Republican |
| Majority whip | Randy Robertson | Republican |
| Majority caucus chairman | Jason Anavitarte | Republican |
| Majority caucus vice-chairman | Matt Brass | Republican |
| Majority caucus treasurer | Dean Burke | Republican |
| Minority leader | Harold V. Jones II | Democratic |
| Minority whip | Kim Jackson | Democratic |
| Minority caucus chair | Elena Parent | Democratic |
| Minority caucus vice-chair | Sonya Halpern | Democratic |
| Minority caucus vice-chair of fundraising and campaigns | David Lucas | Democratic |
| Minority caucus secretary | Nan Orrock | Democratic |

## Composition

According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members. Elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.
Senators must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Georgia for two years and their senatorial district for one year (preceding the election). The highest position in the Senate is the President of the Senate, a position currently held by Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. The second-highest position is president pro tempore, currently held by Senator Butch Miller.
| 33 | 23 |
| Republican | Democratic |
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| Affiliation | Republican | Democratic | Total | Vacant |
| End of 155th Assembly | 35 | 21 | 56 | 0 |
| End of 156th Assembly | 34 | 22 | 56 | 0 |
| Beginning of 157th Assembly | 33 | 23 | 56 | 0 |
| Latest voting share | 59% | 41% | | |

## List of current senators

As of January 2025, the Georgia State Senate is composed of 56 members:
| District | Senator | Party | Since | Residence | Counties represented |
| 1 | Ben Watson | Republican | 2015 | Savannah | Bryan, Liberty, part of Chatham |
| 2 | Derek Mallow | Democratic | 2023 | Savannah | Part of Chatham |
| 3 | Mike Hodges | Republican | 2023 | Brunswick | Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, McIntosh, part of Ware |
| 4 | Billy Hickman | Republican | 2020 | Statesboro | Bulloch, Candler, Effingham, Evans, part of Chatham |
| 5 | Sheikh Rahman | Democratic | 2019 | Lawrenceville | Part of Gwinnett |
| 6 | Matt Brass | Republican | 2017 | Newnan | Coweta, Heard, part of Carroll |
| 7 | Nabilah Islam | Democratic | 2023 | Duluth | Part of Gwinnett |
| 8 | Russ Goodman | Republican | 2021 | Cogdell | Atkinson, Clinch, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, part of Ware |
| 9 | Nikki Merritt | Democratic | 2021 | Grayson | Part of Gwinnett |
| 10 | Emanuel Jones | Democratic | 2005 | Decatur | Parts of DeKalb and Henry |
| 11 | Sam Watson | Republican | 2023 | Moultrie | Brooks, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Grady, Seminole, Thomas |
| 12 | Freddie Sims | Democratic | 2009 | Dawson | Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Dougherty, Early, Miller, Mitchell, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, Sumter, Terrell, Webster |
| 13 | Carden Summers | Republican | 2020 | Cordele | Ben Hill, Berrien, Crisp, Irwin, Lee, Tift, Turner, Worth, part of Coffee |
| 14 | Josh McLaurin | Democratic | 2023 | Sandy Springs | Part of Fulton |
| 15 | Ed Harbison | Democratic | 1993 | Columbus | Chattahoochee, Macon, Marion, Schley, Talbot, Taylor, part of Muscogee |
| 16 | Marty Harbin | Republican | 2015 | Tyrone | Lamar, Pike, Spalding, part of Fayette |
| 17 | Gail Davenport | Democratic | 2007 | Jonesboro | Parts of Clayton and Henry |
| 18 | John F. Kennedy | Republican | 2015 | Macon | Crawford, Monroe, Peach, Upson, parts of Bibb and Houston |
| 19 | Blake Tillery | Republican | 2017 | Vidalia | Appling, Bacon, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Wayne, Wheeler, part of Coffee |
| 20 | Larry Walker III | Republican | 2015 | Perry | Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Pulaski, Treutlen, Wilcox, part of Houston |
| 21 | Brandon Beach | Republican | 2013 | Alpharetta | Parts of Cherokee and Fulton |
| 22 | Harold V. Jones II | Democratic | 2015 | Augusta | Part of Richmond |
| 23 | Max Burns | Republican | 2021 | Sylvania | Burke, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, McDuffie, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren, parts of Columbia and Richmond |
| 24 | Lee Anderson | Republican | 2017 | Grovetown | Elbert, Greene, Hart, Lincoln, Oglethorpe, Wilkes, part of Columbia |
| 25 | Rick Williams | Republican | 2023 | Milledgeville | Baldwin, Butts, Jasper, Jones, Putnam, parts of Bibb and Henry |
| 26 | David Lucas | Democratic | 2013 | Macon | Hancock, Johnson, Twiggs, Washington, Wilkinson, parts of Bibb and Houston |
| 27 | Greg Dolezal | Republican | 2019 | Cumming | Part of Forsyth |
| 28 | Donzella James | Democratic | 2009 | Atlanta | Parts of Cobb, Douglas, and Fulton |
| 29 | Randy Robertson | Republican | 2019 | Cataula | Harris, Meriwether, Troup, part of Muscogee |
| 30 | Tim Bearden | Republican | 2024 | Carrollton | Haralson, parts of Carroll, Douglas, and Paulding |
| 31 | Jason Anavitarte | Republican | 2021 | Dallas | Polk, part of Paulding |
| 32 | Kay Kirkpatrick | Republican | 2017 | Marietta | Parts Cherokee and Cobb |
| 33 | Michael Rhett | Democratic | 2015 | Marietta | Part of Cobb |
| 34 | Kenya Wicks | Democratic | 2025 | Fayetteville | Parts of Clayton and Fayette |
| 35 | Jason Esteves | Democratic | 2023 | Atlanta | Parts of Cobb and Fulton |
| 36 | Nan Orrock | Democratic | 2007 | Atlanta | Part of Fulton |
| 37 | Ed Setzler | Republican | 2023 | Acworth | Parts of Bartow and Cobb |
| 38 | RaShaun Kemp | Democratic | 2025 | Atlanta | Part of Fulton |
| 39 | Sonya Halpern | Democratic | 2021 | Atlanta | Part of Fulton |
| 40 | Sally Harrell | Democratic | 2019 | Atlanta | Parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett |
| 41 | Kim Jackson | Democratic | 2021 | Stone Mountain | Part of DeKalb |
| 42 | Brian Strickland | Republican | 2018 | McDonough | Morgan, parts of Henry, Newton, and Walton |
| 43 | Tonya Anderson | Democratic | 2017 | Lithonia | Rockdale, parts of DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Newton |
| 44 | Elena Parent | Democratic | 2015 | Atlanta | Parts of Clayton and DeKalb |
| 45 | Clint Dixon | Republican | 2021 | Buford | Parts of Barrow and Gwinnett |
| 46 | Bill Cowsert | Republican | 2007 | Athens | Parts of Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Oconee, and Walton |
| 47 | Frank Ginn | Republican | 2011 | Danielsville | Madison, parts of Barrow, Clarke, and Jackson |
| 48 | Shawn Still | Republican | 2023 | Norcross | Parts of Forsyth, Fulton, and Gwinnett |
| 49 | Drew Echols | Republican | 2025 | Alto | Part of Hall |
| 50 | Bo Hatchett | Republican | 2021 | Cornelia | Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, parts of Hall, Jackson, and White |
| 51 | Steve Gooch | Republican | 2011 | Dahlonega | Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, Union, part of White |
| 52 | Chuck Hufstetler | Republican | 2013 | Rome | Parts of Bartow, Floyd, and Gordon |
| 53 | Colton Moore | Republican | 2023 | Trenton | Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Walker, part of Floyd |
| 54 | Chuck Payne | Republican | 2017 | Dalton | Murray, Whitfield, part of Gordon |
| 55 | Randal Mangham | Democratic | 2025 | Stone Mountain | Parts of DeKalb and Gwinnett |
| 56 | John Albers | Republican | 2011 | Roswell | Parts of Cherokee, Cobb, and Fulton |