Carolyn Hugley first walked into the Georgia House as a lawmaker from Columbus in 1992. In January she is expected to walk to the front of the chamber as its leader. House Democrats chose her on Thursday as their pick for speaker, putting her in line to become the first Black person and the first Black woman ever to hold the gavel in Georgia's lower chamber.

The nomination came days after Democrats captured a majority in the Georgia House for the first time since the early 2000s. The full House still has to make it official with a vote when the General Assembly meets in January. With her party now in control, that vote is expected to go her way.

Hugley, who became minority leader two years ago, would replace Republican Speaker Jon Burns of Newington, who took over in 2023. The speaker is among the most powerful people in state government. That person names committee leaders and largely decides which bills ever reach the floor.

A leadership team built to mirror the state

Standing in the Capitol with dozens of colleagues clapping behind her, Hugley said the new leaders look like the state they serve. She told the crowd that Democrats did not win in order to collect new titles or new offices but to deliver for the people who sent them there.

Rep. Billy Mitchell of Stone Mountain, first elected in 2002, is the nominee for speaker pro tempore, the second highest post in the House. He would follow Republican Jan Jones, who did not run again. Rep. Stacey Evans of Atlanta was chosen as majority leader. Rep. Sam Park of Lawrenceville, a Korean American lawmaker, moves from minority whip to majority whip. Park said the variety of backgrounds in the caucus is a reflection of Georgia itself.

Rounding out the team are Rep. Bryce Berry of Atlanta as chief deputy whip, Athens Rep. Spencer Frye as caucus chair, Rep. Imani Barnes of Tucker as vice chair, Rep. Anissa Jones of Macon as secretary and Rep. Robert Flournoy of Hampton as treasurer.

Medicaid comes first

Hugley said growing Medicaid so more working Georgians qualify will be the first item on the agenda. She noted that Democrats will have a partner in Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms. The incoming governor made the same promise the center of her run for governor. Hugley said the caucus will also go after the everyday costs that families keep raising with her, from groceries and gas to rent, health care and child care.

The margin is thin. Democrats hold 91 seats, exactly the number needed to control the 180-member House. Three races are still being settled. Republicans kept a two-seat edge in the state Senate, so any big plan will need a deal across the aisle. Hugley admitted the party may not get through its whole wish list by the end of the next term. Still she held out an olive branch to Republicans, saying she believes everyone in the building wants what is best for Georgians even when they disagree on how to get there.

House Republicans, who will be about to lose control of the chamber after two decades in charge, are set to choose their own leaders on Monday.