NC's 1st female Senate majority leader to retire in 2022

North Carolina Senate Majority Leader Kathy Harrington says she won’t seek reelection to her legislative seat next year. She's the first woman to hold the job since it was created over 40 years ago. The Gaston County Republican is now in her sixth two-year Senate term. While the chamber’s most powerful position belongs to Sen. Phil Berger as president pro tempore, Harrington’s elevation to majority leader still marked a historic moment. Harrington said on Monday she felt like it was the right time to retire after looking at her Senate accomplishments. Berger called Harrington “the epitome of a public servant.”