Sen. Harrington Elected Senate Majority Leader

Sen. Harrington first woman to hold position since its inception in 1977

Raleigh, N.C. — This afternoon, the Senate Republican Caucus voted unanimously to elect Sen. Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston) as the next majority leader. Sen. Harry Brown (R-Onslow) has held the post since 2011 and is retiring this year.

Sen. Harrington said, “It’s such an honor to have earned the faith and trust of my colleagues for this leadership position. 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.”

Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said, “Sen. Harrington is a powerful voice in the caucus and works tirelessly behind the scenes. You may not read about her very often in the paper, but she’s a force in the Senate. I’m excited about her election and I know she’ll do a wonderful job.”

Sen. Harrington is the first female majority leader for either caucus since the position’s inception in the Senate in 1977. First elected in 2010, Sen. Harrington has risen through the ranks in the caucus, serving as a co-chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee during the last biennium.