Overview
The 150th Georgia General Assembly. convened its first session on January 12, 2009, at the Georgia State Capitol. in Atlanta, Georgia. The 150th Georgia General Assembly succeeded the 149th and served as the precedent for the 151st General Assembly in 2011.
The 150th General Assembly adjourned its first session on April 3, 2009. The second session of the 150th General Assembly convened January 11, 2010.
Officers Senate Presiding officer PositionNameDistrictParty PresidentCasey Cagle n/aRepublican President Pro TemporeTommie Williams 19Republican
Majority leadership PositionNameDistrict Senate Majority LeaderChip Rogers 21 Majority Caucus ChairmanDan Moody 56 Majority Vice leader John Wiles 37
Minority leadership PositionNameDistrict Senate Minority LeaderRobert Brown 26 Minority Caucus ChairmanTim Golden 8 Minority Vice leader David Adelman 42
House of Representatives Presiding officer PositionNameDistrictParty Speaker of the HouseDavid Ralston 7Republican Speaker Pro TemporeJan Jones 46Republican
Glenn Richardson (R) served as Speaker of the House from January 2009 through Jan. 1, 2010. Mark Burkhalter (R) served as Speaker pro tempore during the same period, and was acting Speaker when the House reconvened on Jan. 11, 2010, at which time the House elected David Ralston and Jan Jones.AJC: Richardson out, Burkhalter will be speakerAJC: Live blogging from the Legislature: David Ralston elected House speaker
Majority leadership PositionNameDistrict House of Representatives Majority LeaderJerry Keen 179 House of Representatives Majority Vice leader Edward Lindsey 54 Majority Caucus ChairmanDonna Sheldon 105 Majority Caucus Vice ChairmanJeff May 111 Majority Caucus Sec./Treas.Allen Peake 137
Minority leadership PositionNameDistrict House of Representatives Minority LeaderDuBose Porter 143 House of Representatives Minority Vice leader Carolyn Hugley 133 House of Representatives Minority Caucus ChairmanCalvin Smyre 132 House of Representatives Minority Caucus Vice ChairmanNikki Randall 138 Minority Caucus SecretaryKathy Ashe 56 Minority Caucus TreasurerDon Wix 33
Members of the state senate DistrictDistrictSenatorPartyFirst electedResidence1 1 Earl “Buddy” Carter Republican 2009Pooler2 2 Lester Jackson Democratic 2008Savannah3 3 Jeff Chapman Republican2004Brunswick4 4 Jack Hill Republican 1990Reidsville5 5 Curt Thompson Democratic 2004Norcross6 6 Doug Stoner Democratic 2004Smyrna7 7 Greg Goggans Republican 2004Douglas8 8 Tim Golden Democratic 1998Valdosta9 9 Don Balfour Republican 1992Snellville10 10 Emanuel Jones Democratic2004Ellenwood11 11 John Bulloch Republican 2002Ockhocknee12 12 Freddie Powell Sims Democratic2008Dawson13 13 John Crosby Republican 2008Tifton14 14 George Hooks Democratic1990Americus15 15 Ed Harbison Democratic1992Columbus16 16 Ronnie Chance Republican 2004Tyrone17 17 John Douglas Republican 2004Social Circle18 18 Cecil Staton Republican 2004Macon19 19 Tommie Williams Republican 1998Lyons20 20 Ross Tolleson Republican 2002Perry21 21 Chip Rogers Republican 2004Woodstock22 22 VACANT 23 23 J.B. Powell Democratic2004Blythe24 24 Bill Jackson Republican 2007Appling25 25 Johnny Grant Republican 2004Milledgeville26 26 Robert Brown Democratic1991Macon27 27 Jack Murphy Republican 2006Cumming28 28 Mitch Seabaugh Republican 2000Sharpsburg29 29 Seth Harp Republican 2000Midland30 30 Bill Hamrick Republican 1999Carrollton31 31 Bill Heath Republican 2004Bremen32 32 Judson Hill Republican 2004East Cobb33 33 Steve Thompson Democratic1990Marietta34 34 Valencia Seay Democratic2003Riverdale35 35 Donzella James Democratic2009College Park36 36 Nan Orrock Democratic2006Atlanta37 37 John Wiles Republican 2004Kennesaw38 38 Horacena Tate Democratic1998Atlanta39 39 Vincent Fort Democratic 1996Atlanta40 40 Dan Weber Republican 2004Dunwoody41 41 Steve Henson Democratic 2002Tucker42 42 David Adelman Democratic 2002Atlanta43 43 Ronald Ramsey, Jr. Democratic 2006Lithonia44 44 Gail Buckner Democratic 2008Jonesboro45 45 Renee Unterman Republican 2002Buford46 46 Bill Cowsert Republican 2006Athens47 47 Ralph Hudgens Republican 2002Hull48 48David Shafer Republican 2001Duluth49 49 Lee Hawkins Republican 2006Gainesville50 50 Jim Butterworth Republican 2008Cornelia51 51 Chip Pearson Republican 2004Dawsonville52 52 Preston Smith Republican 2002 Rome53 53 Jeff Mullis Republican 2000Chickamauga54 54 Don Thomas Republican 1996Dalton55 55 Gloria Butler Democratic 1999Stone Mountain56 56 Dan Moody Republican 2002Alpharetta
Changes in membership from previous term While no seat changed party control from the previous session, the beginning of the 150th Georgia General Assembly still saw five new state senators. Two of these new senators defeated the incumbent in the runoff for their parties' primaries. Two replaced incumbents who had run for other office. Another replaced a senator who had retired. District Previous Subsequent Reason for change 2nd Regina Thomas (D) Lester Jackson (D) Ran for Congress 12th Michael Meyer von Bremen (D) Freddie Powell Sims (D) Ran for a seat on the Georgia Court of Appeals 13th Joseph Carter (R) John Crosby (R) Retired 44th Gail Davenport (D) Gail Buckner (D) Defeated in primary runoff 50th Nancy Schaefer (R) Jim Butterworth (R) Defeated in primary runoff
Changes in membership during current term There have been three vacancies in the State Senate as of December 25, 2009. All three have been due to resignations. Two have since been filled, both by members of the same party as the former incumbent. Another vacancy is expected at some point during the term.
Date seat became vacant District Previous Reason for change Subsequent Date of successor's taking office August 2009 35th Kasim Reed (D) Resigned to run for Mayor of Atlanta. A special election was held on November 3, 2009. Because no candidate gained a majority of the vote, a runoff was held December 1, 2009. Donzella James(D) September 15, 2009 1st Eric Johnson(R) Resigned to run for Governor of Georgia. A special election was held on November 3, 2009. Buddy Carter(R) November 9, 2009 22nd Ed Tarver(D) Resigned after being confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. A special election is to be held January 5, 2010 with a runoff, if necessary on February 2, 2010. Hardie Davis(D)March 19, 2010 42nd David Adelman(D) Nominated by President Barack Obama as United States Ambassador to Singapore. If confirmed, Adelman will have to resign his State Senate seat, creating another vacancy. Jason Carter(D)
Announced retirements As of December 25, 2009, six state senators have announced that they will not be running for re-election in 2010. One senator, Dan Moody (56th) is retiring. The other five are seeking higher office.
Jeff Chapman (3rd) is running for governor. Following State Insurance and Fire Commissioner John Oxendine's decision to run for governor, Seth Harp (29th) and Ralph Hudgens (47th) announced that they will seek the Republican nomination for the office. Lee Hawkins (49th) announced that he will run for the Congressional seat to be left open by incumbent Nathan Deal's campaign for governor. Finally, Gail Buckner is running for state secretary of state, a position she also ran for in 2006.
Members of the House of Representatives