Phil Berger is the President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate, and the first Republican Senate leader in more than a century.
He represents the state's 26th Senate district, which includes Rockingham and part of Guilford county.
Senator Berger was first elected in 2000. He rose to Senate minority leader in 2004, and was elected President Pro Tem in January following the November elections that put Republicans in charge of the legislature for the first time since the 19th century.
Senator Berger earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Averett College, and a law degree from Wake Forest University.
He lives with his wife, Pat, in Eden, where he practices law. He has three children - Kevin, Phil Jr., and Ashley - and five grandchildren.