Press Releases | Articles | White Papers

North Carolina Update – House Republicans Elect Leadership

Over the weekend, the House Republican Caucus gathered to elect their leadership for the 2011 session of the NC General Assembly. The caucus named its candidates for Speaker of the House and Speaker Pro Tempore, as well as a few other officers. The Republicans' electoral victory earlier this month gave the party a 68 - 51 seat majority (1 unaffiliated member caucusing with GOP and 1 election headed for a recount), so their selections should carry the day when the actual vote for these positions is cast on the first day of session in January 2011.

The caucus race for Speaker was a close contest, but on the second ballot Rep. Thom Tillis of Mecklenburg County defeated Rep. Skip Stam of Wake County, the minority leader since 2007. Rep. Ric Killian of Mecklenburg County and Rep. Mitch Gillespie of McDowell County were eliminated from the race for Speaker on the first ballot. Rep. Tillis led the House GOP campaign effort during the recent election and was elected to his third term in the House.

Rep. Skip Stam was then elected as House Majority Leader, while the caucus nominated Rep. Dale Folwell of Forsyth County for Speaker Pro Tempore. Rep. Marilyn Avila of Wake County was elected as Joint Caucus Leader. Committee chairs and other appointments will likely come out between now and January.