Georgia House Democrats announced Thursday afternoon on the south steps of the State Capitol that Columbus Rep. Carolyn Hugley has been nominated to serve as speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. If elected, Hugley would become the first Black woman to hold the position in the state’s history, a milestone highlighted by WTVM.
The nomination comes as Democrats captured a majority in the chamber for the first time in more than two decades, according to WTVM. The full House is slated to vote on Hugley’s nomination when the new legislature is sworn in in January.
Hugley expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, telling reporters, “I am so excited about where we are in this moment,” and called the nomination “a historic moment.” She thanked Columbus residents, especially those in House District 141, saying, “I just could not be more honored to represent you.” Hugley emphasized that the election cycle was driven by “affordability,” noting that voters voiced concerns about the cost of “just about everything.”
Health‑care emerged as a top priority for the Democratic caucus. Hugley said the party will work with Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, who has identified Medicaid expansion as her number‑one goal. “We need a healthy Georgia in order for us to grow economically and do all the things that we are hoping to do,” Hugley said, adding that a governor willing to pursue expansion is the “missing link” that has stalled the issue for years.
While the House now has a Democratic majority, Republicans continue to control the Georgia Senate. Hugley acknowledged that “Senate Republicans have to get their agenda to the House, and the House has to get its agenda to the Senate,” and stressed the need for both chambers to find common ground on issues most important to Georgians.
Hugley cautioned that sweeping change will not happen overnight. She explained that the legislative process is deliberately slow, requiring a bill to pass through committees, both chambers, and finally the governor’s desk. “I don’t want to give anybody any false notions that things are going to change overnight,” she said.
In a meeting with the St. Francis health‑care group on Thursday morning, Hugley discussed the growing amount of uncompensated care in the state, reinforcing her focus on health‑care reform as the first priority for the new session.
What’s next: The full Georgia House will cast its vote on Hugley’s speaker nomination when lawmakers are sworn in during the January 2027 session. If confirmed, Hugley will lead a Democratic‑controlled House and will begin negotiations with the Republican‑led Senate on key priorities such as Medicaid expansion, affordability measures, and other legislation aimed at improving the lives of Georgia residents.
