Democrats poised to flip Georgia House, ending two decades of Republican control

Hugley says Democrats have the majority; six races remain uncalled as Speaker Jon Burns says counting is not over

By LineZotpaper

Published5 November 2026

Read Time3 min

Democrats appear poised to take control of the Georgia state House of Representatives, ending more than two decades of Republican control of the chamber. House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley declared victory Wednesday, a day after elections in which Democrats needed to flip 10 seats to reach a 91-seat majority in the 180-member House.

A day after Tuesday's midterm elections, only six races were still undecided as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley of Columbus said, "Georgia voters have made their voices heard, and history has been made."

House Speaker Jon Burns, a Newington Republican, said the ballot counting was not over. "While a few key seats remain within the recount margin, we still have a strong, resilient, and committed caucus," Burns said in a statement, adding that Republicans will keep defending conservative priorities if they become a minority party.

An apparent Democratic majority would give the party the ability to pass bills out of the chamber without Republican support, the opportunity to elect a House speaker and appoint members to House committees, and power over what bills get a hearing. Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, a Decatur Democrat who has served since 2003, said, “I can list for you 25 things that I've introduced that never got a hearing, and times are going to change.”

Hugley, who has served since 1993, indicated she will seek the speaker's gavel, a role that would make her the first Black person and the first woman elected to it. "I've been a member of this body for 34 years," she said. "I've served under every speaker since Tom Murphy." She added, "So I kinda know what speakers are supposed to do."

Hugley said the Democratic majority will focus on affordability but declined to discuss specifics, saying she would hold space for governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms to have a say in the party's priorities. "Let's not jump ahead of her agenda right now, but know that we will be working on all those things you heard us talk about in the campaign," Hugley said. Bottoms is set to become the first Democratic governor since 2003, giving House Democrats an ally in the governor's mansion. The Senate will be more complicated: incoming lieutenant governor Josh McLaurin, a Democrat, is set to lead the chamber, but it is expected to retain a slight Republican majority.

In confirmed results, Democrats defeated 11 Republican incumbents and Republicans defeated one Democratic incumbent. Six races were still uncalled, including a three-way contest in House District 151 that appeared headed to a runoff.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

Control of the Georgia House would give Democrats the speaker's gavel, committee appointments and the power to decide which bills get hearings, ending more than two decades of Republican rule in the chamber.
A Democratic House would align with governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms, the first Democrat elected governor since 2003, giving the party unified control of most of state government.
The state Senate is expected to keep a slight Republican majority, so major legislation will still require cross-party cooperation.

Background

Georgia's House has 180 members and a majority requires 91 seats. Republicans have controlled the chamber for more than two decades; the last Democratic speaker was Tom Murphy, who served for 28 years until 2002. Tuesday's elections also brought the governorship back to Democrats with Bottoms' victory.

Key Perspectives

House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley (D): says the caucus has achieved its majority and that the focus will be on affordability, with details to come after governor-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms sets her agenda. House Speaker Jon Burns (R): says ballot counting is not over, notes that a few key seats remain within the recount margin, and says Republicans will keep protecting Georgia's conservative values.

What to Watch

The six uncalled House races, and whether any fall within recount margins and shift the final margin.
Whether Hugley is formally elected speaker, which would make her the first Black person and the first woman in the role.
How the new House majority works with a Republican-leaning Senate and the Bottoms administration on affordability legislation.

Sources

Democrats say they have flipped Georgia’s state House; some races are still unsettled · Georgia Recorder