NC Senate leader Phil Berger, after years at top of GOP power, starts last session
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- After 25 years in the North Carolina Senate, Berger started his final legislative session.
- Berger said he will complete his term, remaining in Raleigh through December.
- Berger listed tax cuts, limited spending and expanded school choice as priorities.
After 25 years in the North Carolina Senate, Phil Berger started his final legislative session on Tuesday.
Berger is Senate president pro tempore, a role that means he is leader of the Senate, elected by the majority party of Republicans. He’s led the upper chamber at the General Assembly for 15 years, and spent his years prior to that in the minority when Democrats had control.
He lost his Republican primary race in March to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, conceding after recounts in his home county of Rockingham and in Guilford County, which is also part of Senate District 26. Even before the election, Berger said that win or lose, he wouldn’t be leaving Raleigh early.
On Tuesday, Berger again said he’s staying through the remainder of his term, which ends in December.
He also described his priorities for this final session, and what he thinks about the race to replace him in 2027.
Berger’s priorities
“I intend to complete my term, complete the responsibilities that I have as president pro tem. What happens after that — really, I have not spent a whole lot of time on. We’ll figure that out when we get to that point,” he told reporters after the Senate session on opening day.
The News & Observer asked Berger what he’d like to get done in this final legislative session of his Senate tenure.
His answer was in line with his longtime legislative priorities of tax cuts, limited spending and expanding school choice, including private school vouchers.
“I’d like to continue the progress that we’ve made over the years in making North Carolina (the) No. 1 state for business, and making North Carolina a competitive state in terms of our tax climate and our regulatory climate,” Berger said, “and continue to make progress in our funding of education, and the options that parents have as far as educating their kids.”
Who may replace Senate leader Berger in 2027
Three Republican senators have already said publicly they are interested in the Senate president pro tem job in 2027, assuming Republicans maintain a supermajority or at least a majority after the November election.
They are Majority Leader Michael Lee of New Hanover County, Sen. Todd Johnson of Union County, who is a whip, and Sen. Ralph Hise of Spruce Pine, who is deputy president pro tem.
Berger says he isn’t involved at all in the race to succeed him, and isn’t endorsing any contender. At least not yet.
“I am not involved in that in any way, shape, manner or form at this time,” he said.
In December, if Republicans prevail in the election, Senate Republicans will meet to choose their next leaders. Returning senators will vote, as will those set to be sworn in the following month. Then, when the legislative long session starts in early 2027, the entire Senate will take an official vote on the next leader.
