At least three North Carolina Republican state senators have thrown their hats into the ring to replace Phil Berger as the chamber’s leader after he lost his seat to Rockingham Sheriff Sam Page earlier this month.
Berger (R-Rockingham) conceded to Page three weeks after the primary election. Page led by 23 votes after two recounts.
The incumbent was first elected to the state Senate in 2000 and has led the chamber for 15 years. He’s considered North Carolina’s most powerful politician.
Berger’s loss to a populist candidate to his right leaves a gaping power vacuum at the top of the chamber. It also leaves his caucus with a difficult question: whether to continue his legacy by choosing one of his lieutenants, or choose a different direction in the future.
The longtime politician remains in office until January, and has said he intends to continue to serve out his two-year term as Senate leader when lawmakers come back to Raleigh next month. But he’s a lame duck, and it’s unclear how that status will affect his ability to negotiate and to hold his caucus together during the session.
Berger continues to wield some power. He’s been a prolific fundraiser, spending millions of dollars on his own campaign for reelection and raising many millions more over the years to help retain a Republican majority in the state Senate. He’s also built a network of powerful political proteges that reaches deep into the judicial branch, the UNC system and the business community, not to mention the state Republican party.
“Even though there might be some movement away from following Phil Berger’s lead in lockstep, it really is as much dependent on what Phil Berger wants as it always has been, because he still does have control,” Meredith College political science professor David McLennan said. “If he wants to exercise that control is another question.”
Senate Republicans could take a vote for their leader as lawmakers return to Raleigh this year, or in January at the start of their next term.
“There’s always uncertainty with an election,” McLennan said. “We don’t know who all is going to be there come January.”
Some political observers think the caucus will make informal decisions during the upcoming session, and say the power struggle to replace him is likely to shape it.
Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell), who has long served as Berger’s closest deputy, confirmed to NC Insider/State Affairs that he would join the race to succeed Berger.
“I will put my name forward for consideration by our caucus,” Hise told NC/Insider/State Affairs in a statement. “However, my focus right now is on continuing this session under Phil’s leadership and honoring his service to North Carolina. The season for deciding the next president pro-temp of the Senate is after we have concluded our work for this session.”
Hise has been in the legislature since 2011, the same year Berger became Senate leader. He represents several Western North Carolina counties that were hit hard by Helene, and was instrumental in designing many recent redistricting maps that made the state’s legislative and congressional seats more favorable for Republicans.
Hise did not respond to NC Newsline’s request for comment.
Another close deputy, Senate Majority Leader Michael Lee (R-New Hanover), also declared his interest in the position while thanking Berger for his career.
“I am aware that conversations have begun about the future leadership of the Senate. I respect those who are engaging in those discussions, and I am prepared to step forward to provide the leadership needed to meet the challenges ahead and to guide the Senate into its next chapter,” Lee posted on social media.
Choosing Lee, however, would be risky, some observers say. He’s in a vulnerable swing district containing much of Wilmington that grows bluer by the year. His five terms have been nonconsecutive because he lost to Democrat Harper Peterson in 2018.
Lee sponsored the Parents’ Bill of Rights in 2023, which banned instruction on gender identity, sexual activity or sexuality for students in K-4. It was a keystone piece of legislation for the far right, but could be a liability in a more moderate district. And some observers say he may have to spend too much time and money fighting to save his own seat to devote much of either to helping his caucus.
Senate Majority Whip Todd Johnson (R-Cabarrus, Union) has also entered the race, he confirmed to WBT News in Charlotte. He’s been in the Senate since 2019.
Although Johnson is close to Berger, he isn’t one of Berger’s top allies. That could play to his favor as it makes him more of a new voice, according to Axios.
Johnson did not respond to NC Newsline’s request for comment.
The Senate’s other majority whip, Amy Galey (R-Alamance), hasn’t publicly expressed interest in the role. But she could be under consideration.
Galey has spent three terms in the chamber and is the only woman in Senate Republican leadership. She tried to persuade Page to drop out of the race against Berger, driving to the sheriff’s home in November.
Galey did not respond to NC Newsline’s request for comment.
Sen. Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) is one of the longest-serving members of the Senate with eight terms. He’s long been one of the chamber’s top budget negotiators, and could be interested in expanding his already substantial power.
Jackson, a businessman who founded Jackson Farming Company, has chaired influential committees like the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Committee and the Agriculture, Energy and Environment Committee. For many years, he’s been one of the two state lawmakers who draft and negotiate the influential Farm Bill.
Jackson did not respond to NC Newsline’s request for comment.
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