ALBANY — The New York Assembly Republicans have a new leader. On Monday, the Assembly Republican conference voted unanimously to elevate Edward P. Ra, a Long Island lawmaker with an established profile, to leadership in the minority party.

Ra, R-Garden City, has been a member of the state Assembly since 2010. The 44-year-old has built himself up as a prominent face among the 47-member GOP minority.

“”As a member of this conference for nearly 16 years, I recognize the dedication and commitment Assembly Republicans bring to the job every day,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside each of them as we continue fighting for responsible government, affordability, public safety and a better New York for everyone who lives here and visits our great state.”

Most recently, Ra has been the ranking member for the Republicans on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee in recent terms including this one, a powerful job that touches nearly every piece of legislation to pass through the chamber. He will have to resign that and any other committee seats he currently holds; leaders in the legislature do not occupy committee seats themselves. That will result in some shuffling in the coming weeks as Ra lays out who he wants as his senior leaders.

Ra replaces outgoing minority leader William A. Barclay, R-Pulaski, who announced late last week he was resigning the leadership job and would not seek reelection at the end of this year.

In a statement, Barclay welcomed the news that Ra would succeed him. Barclay has given Ra increasing levels of power in the chamber, with the incoming leader often leading the party’s debate on the state budget in the chamber.

“Ed is among the most respected members of the legislature, and his track record of hard work, intelligence and commitment to our conference will serve him well as minority leader,” Barclay said. “I wish him great success in guiding the conference forward.”

Ra’s victory on Monday wasn’t unexpected; it doesn’t appear that any other GOP members launched serious bids for the leadership and discussions about Ra taking the reins started almost as soon as Barclay stepped down.

Assemblyman Scott A. Gray, R-Watertown, was among the first to congratulate Ra on his victory in a statement sent just after the vote on Monday.

“Ed possesses a strong understanding of New York State’s fiscal challenges and the very real pressures residents face,” Gray said. “Serving as the ranking minority member of the Assembly Ways and Means committee has kept him on the front lines of budget decisions that hit kitchen tables and main streets first. Ed also understands the diversity of districts across New York, from rural communities to suburban neighborhoods and urban centers. That perspective matters.”

Gray also said he believes that Ra will uphold the approach that has become traditional for the chamber’s Republicans, where leadership doesn’t expect solid party-line voting on all issues that come to the floor, rather allowing individual members to vote as they choose without penalty. Indeed, Ra has benefited from that exact approach in the past, with his votes to pass bills the Republican conference has broadly rejected, including 2019’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

“Our conference has long held that each member should vote in what is best for their district,” Gray said. “That means members do not always vote the same way, and that independence is a strength, not a weakness. Ed is expected to uphold that belief and protect members’ freedom to represent their districts honestly. Working with our new leaders, the conference will continue championing legislation that moves New York state forward and will push back on legislation that is detrimental to residents across the state.”