NC Senate Republicans pick Phil Berger to run for pro tem, elect Brown majority leader

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina Senate Republicans have designated their minority leader to become the entire chamber's next leader once the Senate reconvenes in January under a GOP majority for the first time in more than a century.

The Senate Republican Caucus meeting Thursday in Raleigh agreed to nominate Sen. Phil Berger of Eden as its choice for Senate president pro tempore.

The meeting is private, but a caucus spokesman says Berger was approved in a voice vote without opposition.

The actual election won't occur until all 50 senators are seated on the first day of the new legislative session. Republicans won 31 seats in the election earlier this month.

The caucus also elected without opposition Sen. Harry Brown of Jacksonville to become the next majority leader.