Lt. Gov. Randy McNally Announces Retirement
Lt. Gov. McNally announcing his retirement (Photo by Sen. Bo Watson)
After nearly half a century in office, Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, announced that he does not plan to seek re-election in November.
McNally made that announcement from the Senate floor Thursday morning, citing health reasons for his decision.
“It’s partly due to my wife and my physical conditions. We both realized that our paths are kind of short, and this gives us more time to spend together, but it’s very difficult to say that I will be leaving and not serving as speaker in January,” said McNally.
Leadership Legacy
McNally was first elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 1978 as a state representative, and then successfully ran for the Senate District 5 seat in 1986. He was elected to succeed former Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey in 2017 as the chamber’s speaker.
McNally’s leadership in the Senate has included passing multiple education reforms, including the Literacy Success Act and other policies to help students recover from the pandemic. In 2022, he helped overhaul the way schools are funded through the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA), and he’s helped ensure that multiple bills supporting public charter schools have passed the General Assembly.
“My aim each day was to leave my state and my community a little better than I found them,” wrote McNally in a statement posted to social media. “Together, I believe we have done just that. Tennessee’s success is due in no small part to the people I have served alongside every day. It is the result of disciplined budgeting, conservative leadership, and a steadfast commitment to our citizens.”
Accolades from Colleagues and Organizations
Following McNally’s announcement, multiple members of the Tennessee General Assembly took to social media to recognize the Lieutenant Governor’s impact on both the state and their careers.
“From his early service in the House of Representative, to his consequential leadership on the Finance, Ways, and Means Committee in the Senate, to his tenure as Lieutenant Governor, Randy McNally has led Tennessee with humility, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment of the people of our state,” wrote Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin in a statement posted to social media. “Tennessee’s reputation as a national leader in freedom and fiscal discipline and responsible governance is due in no small part to Governor McNally’s thoughtful and principled leadership.”
“I’ve known @ltgovmcnally for almost four decades,” wrote House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. “My first job in politics was working on his campaign in 1994. It has been an honor to serve with him and be able to call him a mentor and a friend. His steady leadership, courage, and integrity have guided Tennessee through some of our toughest moments and he always stood strong in those moments for all of us. Thank you to Jan and his children for the sacrifices they made so he could serve our great state. Job well done Randy!”
McNally also received accolades from groups outside the capitol that he’s worked with, including education advocacy organization Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS). The Tennessee Firefly is a project of and supported by TSS.
"While change is always promised in politics, impact is not. Lt. Governor Randy McNally’s nearly half-century in the state legislature was one of far-reaching impact, setting up millions of Tennesseans with better opportunities to learn, reach higher, and prosper, because he consistently prioritized what’s best for Tennessee students and families over political interests. With his retirement announcement, 2027 will bring our state a new governor and lieutenant governor, both of whom must hold that same priority, lest we retreat from the historic gains we have made in education and from the lasting impact for Tennessee students," said the organization in a statement.
Changing of the Guard
As noted by TSS, McNally’s announcement means Tennessee will have both a new governor and a new lieutenant governor in 2027, as Governor Bill Lee is term-limited.
Republicans currently have a 27-to-6-seat supermajority advantage in the chamber. With 17 seats up for re-election, Democrats face long odds to retake control of the Senate and elect its next speaker
No Republicans have announced their intention to run to succeed McNally. The party's current leadership in the Senate includes Sen. Johnson, Republican Leader; Speaker Pro Tempore Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin; Republican Caucus Chairman Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingson; and Deputy Speakers Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, and Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon.
