Senator Gloria Butler, a Democrat, was elected to the State Senate in 1998 and first served in 1999 to represent District 55 in DeKalb County. With 19 years of service, Sen. Butler is the highest-ranking female in the Georgia Senate. She has held leadership positions every year during her impressive tenure. In the State Senate, she is the Senate Democratic Caucus Chairwoman. Sen. Butler is the Secretary for the State and Local Governmental Operations and Urban Affairs Committees. She is also a member of the Ethics, Health and Human Services, Reapportionment and Redistricting, Rules and Transportation Committees. She is the former chair and a current at-large member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators for region 6, which includes Florida and Georgia, and former Vice-Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus.