ICYMI: NewDEAL Legislators Elevated to Leadership Positions Around the Country

The NewDEAL
4 min readJan 27, 2025

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Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst on Unsplash

With Republicans solidifying unified control of Congress and the White House, even more Democratic policy leadership will come from the states. When it comes to creating economic opportunities for all people; making communities safe from gun violence; ensuring future generations have clean air and water; and protecting basic freedoms like voting rights and access to abortion care, NewDEAL legislators are stepping up.

Over one-third of NewDEAL leaders in state legislatures will hold leadership positions in 2025, with 36 members across 20 states elected by their peers to guide their caucuses in key legislative roles.

“No matter who controls the federal government, NewDEALers are laser-focused on delivering results for the American people,” says Debbie Cox Bultan, NewDEAL CEO. “In state legislatures across the country, NewDEAL Leaders are in positions to listen to the needs of constituents and make a positive impact on the issues that matter most.”

These Leaders will help navigate the challenges and opportunities of the upcoming year to advance innovative, results-driven policies that make a real difference in their communities.

Here is a breakdown of NewDEALers in legislative leadership positions by the numbers:

6 Speakers/Majority Leaders/Chamber President:

  • Connecticut: Bob Duff | Senate Majority Leader
  • Maine: Ryan Fecteau | Speaker of the House
  • Maryland: Bill Ferguson | President of the Senate
  • Michigan: Winnie Brinks | Senate Majority Leader
  • Oregon: Ben Bowman | House Majority Leader
  • Pennsylvania: Joanna McClinton | Speaker of the House

8 House or Senate Minority Leaders:

  • Alabama: Anthony Daniels | House Minority Leader
  • Florida: Fentrice Driskell | House Minority Leader
  • Idaho: Ilana Rubel | House Minority Leader
  • Michigan: Ranjeev Puri | House Minority Leader
  • New Hampshire: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka | Senator Minority Leader
  • North Carolina: Sydney Batch | Senate Minority Leader
  • South Dakota: Erin Healy | House Minority Leader
  • Tennessee: Raumesh Akbari | Senate Minority Leader

6 Caucus/Conference Leaders or Chairs:

  • Georgia: Jason Esteves | Senate Minority Caucus Chair
  • Georgia: Elena Parent | Senate Minority Caucus Chair
  • Georgia: Tanya Miller | House Minority Caucus Chair
  • New Jersey: Troy Singleton | Senate Majority Caucus Chair
  • North Dakota: Jayme Davis | House Minority Caucus Leader
  • Oklahoma: Michael Brooks | Senate Caucus Chair
  • Virginia: Kathy Tran | House of Delegates, Majority Caucus Chair

States with multiple NewDEALers in Legislative Leadership Positions:

  • Michigan: 5
  • Georgia, New Jersey, and North Carolina: 3
  • Alabama, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Virginia: 2

Full list of the 19 NewDEALers elected to leadership positions for state legislative majorities:

  • Connecticut: Bob Duff | Senate Majority Leader
  • Connecticut: Kate Farrar | House Deputy Majority Leader
  • Maine: Ryan Fecteau | Speaker of the House
  • Maryland: Bill Ferguson | President of the Senate
  • Maryland: Jazz Lewis | House Majority Whip
  • Michigan: Winnie Brinks | Senate Majority Leader
  • Michigan: Sam Singh | Majority Floor Leader
  • Michigan: Darrin Camilleri | Senate Assistant Majority Leader
  • Michigan: Mallory McMorrow | Senate Majority Whip
  • New Jersey: Troy Singleton | Senate Majority Caucus Chair
  • New Jersey: Vin Gopal | Senate Majority Whip
  • New Jersey: Lou Greenwald | Assembly Majority Leader
  • Nevada: Daniele Monroe-Moreno | Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore
  • Nevada: Sandra Jauregui | Assembly Majority Floor Leader
  • Oregon: Ben Bowman | House Majority Leader
  • Pennsylvania: Joanna McClinton | Speaker of the House
  • Pennsylvania: Jordan Harris | House Appropriations Committee Chairperson
  • Virginia: Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | House of Delegates, Deputy Majority Whip
  • Virginia: Kathy Tran | House of Delegates, Majority Caucus Chair

Full list of the 17 NewDEALers elected to leadership positions for state legislative minorities:

  • Alabama: Anthony Daniels | House Minority Leader
  • Alabama: Jeremy Gray | House Party Whip
  • Florida: Fentrice Driskell | House Democratic Caucus Leader
  • Georgia: Jason Esteves | Senate Minority Caucus Vice Chair of Finance
  • Georgia: Elena Parent | Senate Minority Caucus Chair
  • Georgia: Tanya Miller | House Minority Caucus Chair
  • Idaho: Ilana Rubel | House Minority Leader
  • Michigan: Ranjeev Puri | House Minority Leader
  • New Hampshire: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka | Senator Minority Leader
  • North Carolina: Sydney Batch | Senate Minority Leader
  • North Carolina: Jay Chaudhuri | Senate Minority Whip
  • North Dakota: Jayme Davis | House Minority Caucus Leader
  • Ohio: Dontavius Jarrells | House Assistant Minority Leader
  • Oklahoma: Michael Brooks | Senate Caucus Chair
  • South Dakota: Erin Healy| House Minority Leader
  • Tennessee: Raumesh Akbari | Senate Minority Leader
  • Utah: Stephanie Pitcher | Minority Caucus Manager

For more on 2025 priorities, check out our previous post on the topic, or watch a discussion with three legislative leaders here. And to hear more from NewDEAL Leaders throughout the year, subscribe to NewDEAL’s award-winning podcast, An Honorable Profession, wherever you listen to podcasts.

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The NewDEAL
The NewDEAL

Written by The NewDEAL

Leading on solutions for the new economy & making government work. Learn more at newdealleaders.org and newdealforum.org

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