Hugley, nominated Georgia House speaker, names Medicaid expansion top priority
Georgia House Democrats, having won a majority for the first time in two decades, named Rep. Carolyn Hugley of Columbus as their nominee for House speaker, with the full House vote to occur when the legislative session begins in January. Democrats also selected other leadership, including Rep. Billy Mitchell as speaker pro tempore nominee and Rep. Stacey Evans as majority leader. At a Capitol press conference, Hugley said expanding Medicaid sits "first and foremost" on the caucus's agenda and noted Democrats "have a partner in the governor's office" in Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, who centered Medicaid expansion in her campaign. Hugley acknowledged Republicans still control the state Senate and that Democrats may not accomplish their full agenda in the first two years.