John Kennedy (Senate District 18)

Biography

John Flanders Kennedy, born on August 20, 1965, is a Republican politician serving as the President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate since January 9, 2023. He represents the 18th Senate District, which includes Crawford, Monroe, Peach, and Upson counties, as well as portions of Bibb and Houston counties.

Education and Political Experience

• Education:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Mercer University, 1987
  • Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law, 1990

• Political Experience:

  • Elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2014
  • Served as Governor Nathan Deal’s Floor Leader during his first term
  • Elected Majority Caucus Chairman in 2017, serving until 2023
  • Appointed Chairman of the Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee in 2021
  • Elected President Pro Tempore of the Georgia State Senate in 2023

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Legislative Initiatives:

  • Sponsored Senate Bill 69 in 2025, introducing regulations on Third-Party Litigation Financing to protect consumers and ensure transparency in Georgia’s civil justice system.
  • Sponsored Senate Bill 123 in 2025, addressing chronic absenteeism in Georgia schools by establishing localized approaches and requiring local boards of education to implement intervention policies.
  • Sponsored Senate Bill 68 in 2025, a comprehensive reform of the state’s tort laws aimed at reducing excessive litigation and associated costs.

• Professional Experience:

  • Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner at James, Bates, Brannan, & Groover LLP, specializing in civil litigation, trial work, business advice, and fiduciary law.

• Community Involvement:

  • Member of the Executive Board of Directors for the Central Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America
  • Former President of the Macon Bar Association
  • Member of the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia
  • Active member of Ingleside Baptist Church
  • Graduate of Leadership Macon and Leadership Georgia
    

Senator Kennedy resides in Bolingbroke, Monroe County, with his wife, Susan, and their two children, Katherine and Will.