Garlan Gudger will lead the Alabama Senate.
The two-term senator from Cullman was elected by the Senate Republican Caucus on Tuesday to take over as president pro tem following the resignation of Greg Reed last month.
“I appreciate the trust and confidence my fellow Republican senators have offered and will ensure that everyone has a voice in how the Senate operates,” Gudger said. “If we bring everyone together, put teamwork first, and unite behind the conservative beliefs, traditional values, and bedrock morals that each of us share, we can make an already great state even greater.”
It was Gudger’s history of inclusion and compromise among the body that proved to be his strength among Republican members, who sought a change in leadership style. Gudger’s challenger, Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingtson, while widely respected by the body, was also viewed – rightly or wrongly – as more of a traditional, old-school leader who would rely more heavily on established members and be less receptive to newer voices and ideas.
“Gudger just has this way about him of letting you know that your point of view is worth his time,” said one member.
The pro tem position is elected by the full body of the Senate, but because Republicans hold a supermajority, his nomination on Tuesday is tantamount to an election.
Originally elected to the Legislature in 2018, Gudger is currently serving his second term in the upper chamber and chairs the Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee. He previously served for 14 years on the Cullman City Council, where he was the youngest member in history, and was elected as its president for the final 10 years of his tenure.
