COVINGTON, Ga. — Even before taking office, state Sen.-elect Brian Strickland is poised to push the governor’s agenda in Atlanta.

Gov. Nathan Deal has named Strickland, a McDonough Republican, as a floor leader for the new legislative session.

Strickland received 61 percent of the vote in a special election Tuesday to represent the portions of Henry, Newton and Rockdale counties that comprise Senate District 17.

Strickland served in the House from 2013 until Dec. 1, when he resigned to run for the seat previously held by Sen. Rick Jeffares, R-McDonough. Jeffares resigned to run for lieutenant governor in the May primary.

An attorney, Strickland is a member of the Young Professionals of Henry County and the Henry County Bar Association. Deal named Strickland to the Uniform Law Commission and the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Commission in 2016.

Strickland is a Valdosta State University graduate with a law degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law.

Deal’s other floor leaders are Sens. P.K. Martin IV of Lawrenceville and Larry Walker III of Kathleen, and Reps. Chuck Efstration of Dacula, Trey Rhodes of Greensboro and Terry Rogers of Clarkesville.