Freshman GOP legislators and incumbents elected in November have agreed to support current House Speaker Tim Moore of Kings Mountain for a third term as speaker. Caucus members said they chose Moore as their nominee Wednesday by acclamation.
The next General Assembly session convenes Jan. 9 to elect a speaker, Senate leader and other officers. Moore is likely to win despite Democratic gains this fall because Republicans will hold 65 of the 120 House seats.
Current Senate leader Phil Berger of Eden was already picked as that chamber's GOP nominee. Berger has been in the top job since 2011. Republicans still will hold 29 of the 50 Senate seats.