The nomination, credentials and resolution committees met as the session opened at 2 p.m.
Counties across the state elected 1945 delegates and 1,200 alternates to the event, held at the city's Civic Center arena.
Senator Saxby Chambliss addressing the delegates at the afternoon session. (Dave Bender).
The delegates will elect 30 delegates and alternates to the national party convention in September in Minnesota. They will also choose the party committee man and committee woman for the Republican National Committee.
Muscogee County representative Richard Smith:
“Our purpose is to get together as a party, and do whatever's necessary to elect quality Republican candidates, who believe in the principles that Republicans believe in: smaller government, less spending – all the things that make a Republican a Republican.”Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle is the keynote speaker at the afternoon session.
Former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Michael Steele will give the keynote address at a festive dinner Friday evening.
On Saturday, Governor Sonny Perdue, House Speaker Glenn Richardson and Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer will head the lineup of speakers.
The convention concludes Saturday night.
Click here for more GPB News coverage of the presidential race.
