Republican Jon Burns to be next Georgia House speaker

Georgia House Majority Leader Jon Burns speaks to House Republicans ahead election of the next House speaker on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. (Matthew Pearson/WABE)

This story was updated Nov. 15 at 11:01 a.m.

Georgia House Majority Leader Jon Burns will become the next speaker of the state House, a powerful position as no legislation can pass the chamber without his approval.

He won a majority of the votes of 97 state House Republicans who gathered in the House Chamber on Monday. He replaces Speaker David Ralston, who is stepping down from leadership due to health reasons.