MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) -- Sen. Garlan Gudger has been named the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus' official nominee to become the chamber's next president pro tempore.
Current Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed said the caucus voted Tuesday afternoon to designate Gudger as Reed's replacement. Reed said Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston was also competing for the president pro tempore post.
Gudger, who resides in Cullman, represents Cullman, Marion and Winston counties. He was first elected to the Alabama Senate in 2018 and chairs the fiscal responsibility and economic development committee.
"I'm honored that the caucus has chosen me to be the next Alabama State Senate pro temp.," Gudger said. "There's a lot that we are going to have to accomplish in going forward, and we're going to do that as a team."
Gudger said he and Livingston have been working together of what they want to do in the 2025 legislative session and how. He said the caucus discussed Tuesday of what issues Senate Republicans are interested in addressing and believes they are united. Gudger is not expecting any changes in the committees besides him leaving the fiscal responsibility and economic development committee.
Reed, a Republican from Jasper, is representing Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties. After first being elected to the Senate in 2010, Reed will resign from the chamber as he starts work as the senior advisor to workforce administration in Gov. Kay Ivey's administration on Jan. 1.
Gudger will have to wait until Feb. 4 to be officially confirmed by the Senate, which holds a Republican majority. Livingston said that will be the first act of the senate in the 2025 legislative session.