Gov. Kemp names new Georgia labor commissioner, first Hispanic woman into statewide office

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Gov. Brian Kemp has appointed Bárbara Rivera Holmes as Georgia’s new labor commissioner.

The announcement comes after Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson, who was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, passed away in November.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Georgia Labor Commissioner dies at 59, department says

Rivera Holmes, 45, is the seventh woman to hold statewide office in Georgia and the first woman of Hispanic descent. John King, the current insurance commissioner originally appointed by Kemp, was the first Hispanic man to hold statewide office. Although elected Republicans at the state level are still overwhelmingly white men, Kemp has made some diverse appointments, recognizing that the GOP needs to broaden its appeal in a state that is now only half white.

Kemp made the announcement in a ceremony at the state Capitol in Atlanta, where he lauded Rivera Holmes for her “unique skill set” in workforce development and education. Holmes was appointed as a member of the board of regents overseeing the University System of Georgia in 2018 by Gov. Nathan Deal.

Georgia’s Labor Department administers unemployment insurance and helps people find jobs.

In August 2023, then-commissioner Thompson announced his office had found more than $105 million in money that should have been handed over to the state treasury but was allegedly squirreled away.

The department has been run since Thompson’s death by interim commissioner Louis DeBroux, who was Thompson’s chief of staff.

Rivera Holmes will serve the remainder of Thompson’s four-year term until early 2027, giving her a chance to make herself known as a statewide officeholder. She said she will run for a full term in the office as a Republican in 2026.

“Yes, she’ll run; yes, she’ll run as a Republican,” Kemp said.

Kemp said he chose Rivera Holmes because he was looking for someone who works well as part of a team to aid economic development and job growth. He also said it was part of his commitment to aid economic opportunity in areas outside metro Atlanta, citing Rivera Holmes' work in southwest Georgia, one of the state’s poorest regions.

Rivera Holmes has led the Albany Area Chamber since 2015. She announced her resignation Monday, saying it would take effect on March 28. Kemp said Rivera Holmes would be sworn into her new statewide post on April 4.

“As the Georgia Department of Labor transitions to new leadership, I am fully committed to working alongside incoming Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes and Governor Brian Kemp’s office to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. Our focus is unwavering: to deliver unparalleled service to the hardworking Georgians who depend on us, while upholding the core values and mission of this agency. Leading the Georgia Department of Labor has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am confident that, under this new leadership and the continued dedication of our exceptional GDOL team, the agency will continue driving forward to become the most responsive, efficient, and service-driven in the state,” DeBroux said.