Steven Royce McNeel is a Republican member of the Georgia State Senate, representing District 18, which includes all of Monroe, Crawford, Upson, and Peach counties, as well as portions of Houston and Macon-Bibb counties. He won the seat in a February 2026 special election runoff, defeating Democrat LeMario Nicholas Brown with 59.4% of the vote after advancing from a January 20 first round. A Macon-based attorney and timber farmer, McNeel practices at Buzzell, Welsh & Hill, focusing on representing injured persons. He serves on Senate committees including Banking and Financial Institutions, Education and Youth, Natural Resources and the Environment, State and Local Governmental Operations, Transportation, and Judiciary. Notable positions include memberships in Tall Timbers, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Longleaf Alliance, Georgia-Alabama Land Trust, Georgia Forestry Association, and Georgia Agribusiness Council. His priorities emphasize pro-agriculture and pro-business policies, job growth, law enforcement support, and Second Amendment rights. Married to Mollie for 20 years with three children, they reside in Macon and attend Vineville United Methodist Church.

Education and Political Experience

McNeel was born and raised in Georgia, earning a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia, where he met his wife, and a J.D. from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. A lifelong Republican, he has volunteered and worked on numerous local, statewide, and federal Republican campaigns since college. This 2026 special election marks his entry into elected office.