A prominent national organization focused on advancing conservative ideas and policy solutions announced Thursday that State Sen. Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) has been named to its exclusive 2019 Class of Emerging Leaders.

Livingston was the only Alabamian chosen to GOPAC‘s Emerging Leaders program this year.

In a statement, he said, “Alabama is an amazing state that I’m proud to call home and it’s a privilege to represent the people of Jackson, DeKalb, and Madison counties in the state senate.”

“I look forward to participating in this national leadership program to network with other legislative leaders as we each work to make our states better places to live and work for our constituents,” Livingston added.

The GOPAC Emerging Leaders program is a year-long initiative to coach and develop state legislators from across the nation on how to be effective leaders. This year’s class will begin their involvement at the 9th Annual Emerging Leaders Summit, which takes place from June 10-12 in Charleston, South Carolina. The summit gives participants the opportunity to learn from policy experts and veteran lawmakers.

“We welcome being a part of the success that this year’s Class of Emerging Leaders will achieve. These men and women will contribute much to our mission to build a roster of Republicans ready to lead in their state legislatures and run for higher office,” GOPAC Chairman David Avella said in a statement.

To be selected, an emerging leader must be nominated by a member of GOPAC’s Legislative Leaders Advisory Board. Alabama Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed (R-Jasper), a GOPAC advisor, nominated Livingston for the honor this year.

This is Reed’s second year serving on GOPAC’s advisory board.

“Steve Livingston is a hard-working leader who this session has ably assumed a new leadership role in chairing the Alabama Senate’s committee on economic development,” Reed explained. “It was an honor to nominate Senator Livingston as an Emerging Leader for GOPAC, a group that does a terrific job in equipping legislative leaders across the nation with the free-market policy solutions that will keep America as the leader of the free world.”

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn