Philip Edward Berger (born August 8, 1952) is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's thirtieth Senate district, which includes Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, and Surry counties. Born in New York, Berger was first elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2000. He became minority leader in 2004, and in 2010, he was selected by his fellow Republicans as their choice for the next Senate President Pro Tem. Berger was officially elected president Pro Tem when the legislature opened on January 26, 2011.

Early life and education

Berger was born in New Rochelle, New York. He graduated from George Washington High School in Danville, Virginia, in 1970 and studied briefly at Danville Community College. Berger earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Averett College in 1980 and a J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1982, after which he entered law practice.

North Carolina Senate

Berger was first elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2000. He was Senate Minority Leader from 2005 to 2011. In 2011, he became Senate President pro tempore.

Voting rights

In 2016, Berger supported voter ID legislation. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals deemed the laws to "target African Americans with almost surgical precision in an opinion written by Diana Motz, an appointee of President Bill Clinton. Berger criticized the ruling as a "decision by three partisan Democrats." Democratic Presidents appointed the three judges working on the case; however, only two have been directly associated with the Democratic party. In 2017, the Supreme Court chose not to take up the case, allowing the lower court's decision to stand. In 2018, a referendum for a Constitutional amendment was approved by a majority of voters. Berger voted to pass legislation that would enroll the amendment later in the year during a lame-duck session. In 2019, a North Carolina judge offered an opinion that the General Assembly was illegally constituted and unable to make law. However, the Governor enrolled the amendment, which remains a portion of the Constitution. Further court proceedings are underway. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Berger led Republican opposition to North Carolina Board of Elections recommendations to make voting by mail easier.

Stripping powers from incoming Democratic administration

After the 2024 elections when Democratic candidates won the races for Governor and Attorney General and Republicans lost their supermajority in the North Carolina legislature, North Carolina Republicans in the legislature passed a sweeping bill to strip the state’s incoming Democratic governor and attorney general of key powers. The bill also gave the power to appoint members to the state's election board to the state auditor, a position won by a Republican candidate. Governor Roy Cooper criticized the bill as a "power grab". Berger, however, defended the bill, saying it is "all within the rules that we have".

Personal life

He is married to Patricia Hays; they have three children, Philip Jr., Kevin, and Ashley, as well as four grandchildren.