NC Senate Republicans elect first female majority leader
In a meeting Monday afternoon, Republicans unanimously elected the first female majority leader in North Carolina’s state Senate since the position was created in 1977.
Sen. Kathy Harrington, of Gastonia, was selected to replace Sen. Harry Brown of Jacksonville, who had served as Senate majority leader since 2011. Brown, who is also the lead budget writer, announced his retirement last year.
Harrington will be the second woman to lead Senate Republicans in the state’s history, according to documents created by the legislative library and provided by Senate leader Phil Berger’s office. The first was Betsy Cochrane, who led Republicans when they were in the minority in 1995.
The Senate’s majority leader is the second in command to the Senate President Pro Tem, who is the highest-ranking officer in the chamber and elected by the full Senate. Berger was re-nominated Monday, all but ensuring he will keep the position he has held since 2011.
Harrington has served in the Senate since that same year, when Republicans took the majority in both chambers. She currently co-chairs the appropriations committee and is well-known among her colleagues for her work behind the scenes in the last 10 years.
“It was great news to hear her name mentioned for that role. She is what I consider a quiet giant,” said Susan Vick, lobbyist and general counsel for Fetzer Strategic Partners. “She is a workhorse and gets things done, but it is often very quietly, very collaboratively.”
In a press release, Berger called Harrington a “force” in the Senate.
“It’s such an honor to have earned the faith and trust of my colleagues for this leadership position,” Harrington said in a press release. “North Carolina has been well-served by the past decade of low taxes, responsible spending, and investments in education, and I’m excited to work with my colleagues to continue that agenda.”
Also selected to lead the Senate Republican caucus for the next two years:
▪ Sen. Ralph Hise, of Spruce Pine, as deputy president pro tem;
▪ Sens. Jim Perry, of Kinston, and Tom McInnis, of Ellerbe, as whips;
▪ Sen. Brent Jackson, of Autryville, as caucus finance chair; and
▪ Sen. Carl Ford, of China Grove, as joint caucus leader.
Republicans maintained their majority in North Carolina’s General Assembly following the 2020 election, though they lost one seat in the Senate, giving them a 28-22 majority. Republicans in the House, however, gained four seats, but did not win enough seats to override gubernatorial vetoes.
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This story was originally published November 30, 2020 at 2:32 PM with the headline "NC Senate Republicans elect first female majority leader."
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misspelled Betsy Cochrane’s name.
