After picking up two Senate seats in last week’s election, creating a 20-20 split in the chamber, Republicans have declared a majority based Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling’s tie-breaking vote and elected Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-James City, majority leader.
Senator Ryan T. McDougle, R-Hanover, will serve as Republican Caucus chairman, according to a release from the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus, and Sen. Stephen D. Newman, R-Lynchburg, will serve as vice chairman.
Sens. Jeffrey L. McWaters, R-Virginia Beach, William M. Stanley, Jr., R-Franklin, and Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, will serve as majority whips. The elections were unanimous.
“The people of Virginia voted to have Republicans lead the Senate of Virginia, and we are honored to have the opportunity to lead the Senate,” Norment said in the release. “Working with Governor McDonnell, Lt. Governor Bolling, and the Republican leadership of the House of Delegates, we are prepared to enact a reform agenda that will revitalize Virginia’s economy and create jobs.”
Since Bolling is not a member of the Senate, some have questioned whether Republicans have complete control of the chamber. While he does have the ability to break tie votes on standard legislation, there’s no precedent for a lieutenant governor voting on budgets, court appointments and other matters.
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