Members of the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus elected State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) on Tuesday to step into the role of President Pro Tempore following the exit of State Sen. Greg Reed (R-Jasper) from the spot in November. The internal caucus vote held among the 27 Republican elected members of the Alabama Senate made a choice between Gudger and current Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro).

All 35 members of the Alabama State Senate will vote on Gudger as President Pro Tem when the Alabama Legislature reconvenes in February. By comparison, Reed was elected unanimously by the chamber when nominated by the caucus to serve as Pro Tem in 2021.

Livingston will remain in his role as Senate Majority Leader following the vote, which placed him at odds with Gudger after an initial caucus meeting postponed the decision until after Thanksgiving.

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“I’m honored that caucus has chosen me to be the next Alabama State Senate Pro Tem. There’s a lot that we’re going to have to accomplish going forward, and we’re going to do that as a team,” Gudger said after the vote. 

“I think Steve Livingston and I have already kind of been working on things together there and put our minds together where we’re going to do what, how we’re going to function and operate as we go forward. So, I’m thankful for the team, and I’m honored to be able to be the next Alabama State Senate Pro Tem.”

Standing alongside Gudger, State Sen. Steve Livingston affirmed the unity within the caucus, now just over two months from the 2025 state legislative session. He described the caucus meeting as “jovial” and said the process allowed every member to have a voice.

“Congratulations to my friend and colleague, Garlan Grudger, on his victory today. As a caucus, we have a proven track record of improving the lives of our constituents, upholding conservative values, and making Alabama the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Moving forward, I am excited to continue leading our caucus as we remain committed to that mission,” Livingston said after the vote.

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Both Livingston and Gudger dismissed the notion that the election represented a generational rift within the caucus. “This wasn’t about a ‘young guard’ versus an ‘old guard,’” Gudger said. “We’re all Alabama Senators. We’re all influential in our particular districts. We were elected, and we’re going to work together — as I keep saying, as a team — and I believe that we’re going to come together in unison.”

State Sen. Greg Reed officially announced his resignation from the President Pro Tempore role and the Alabama Senate as a whole to accept an appointment as Senior Advisor to Workforce Transformation under Governor Kay Ivey. Reed will lead the restructuring of the Alabama Department of Labor into the Alabama Department of Workforce next summer.

Reed’s resignation, effective January 1, 2025, will leave a vacancy in Senate District 5. Governor Ivey is expected to announce a special election will be held to fill this seat.

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As was reportedly the case during the initial vote last month among caucus members, both Livingston and Gudger each expected to have at least 15 of their colleagues’ votes going into today’s meeting. The tally of that vote will not be officially released.

Gudger, a two-term member of the Alabama Senate, said Tuesday afternoon the only committee shakeup he predicts is the one he chairs, the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee. Prior to his election to the Alabama State Senate in 2018, Gudger 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.

Looking ahead, Gudger acknowledged the procedural step of being confirmed by the full Senate on February 4, the first day of the legislative session. Until then, he will serve as the Pro Tem designee.

“That’ll be the first act of the Senate,” Majority Leader Livingston said Tuesday afternoon.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270