Image: From Left – Senator Jack Johnson, outgoing Lt. Gov / Senate Speaker Randy McNally & Gov. Bill Lee. Image Credit: Senator Jack Johnson / Facebook.
Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
Members of the Tennessee Republican Senate Caucus met on Tuesday to vote for party leadership, including Senate Speaker, where Majority Leader Jack Johnson emerged victorious alongside other establishment players to take on new roles.
The full Senate will officially elect the Speaker, who also serves as Lt. Governor, when the 115th General Assembly convenes on January 12, 2027. But because Republicans hold a supermajority with 27 of the chamber’s 33 seats, their candidate will be named to the head position, replacing Republican Randy McNally who spent nearly half a century in the legislature and five terms as Lt. Gov.
Johnson, who has served 16 years as Senate Majority Leader, was selected over Sen. Paul Bailey, competition that created intrigue leading up to the vote amid rumors about one member’s potential removal from the caucus and Caucus Chairman Ken Yager’s efforts to change the rules so Congressman-elect Brent Taylor could vote by proxy.
Bailey was seeking to change the course of Republican leadership, especially following the results of last week’s midterm elections.
Sen. Page Walley, who nominated Bailey, said to members, “Last Tuesday during this election, the people sent us a message. There are lessons to be learned that we need to learn. We all know that even among our fellow Republicans, there’s discord. There’s disunity. And I think even a sense that maybe we haven’t been as responsive as we should be to the interests and needs and will of the people.”
But Johnson ultimately prevailed.
“I am deeply honored by the confidence my Republican colleagues have placed in me as their nominee for speaker of the Senate. Tennessee has a strong record of conservative leadership, and I am committed to building on that success. I look forward to working with my fellow senators, Governor-elect Marsha Blackburn and House Speaker Cameron Sexton to keep Tennessee a national leader in fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity and individual freedom. Together, we will continue working to make Tennessee an even better place to live, work and raise a family,” Johnson said of his win on Tuesday.
With Johnson selected to head up the Senate, the other leadership positions were filled. Sen. Dawn White, Chair of the Education Committee, ran unopposed and was chosen to replace Johnson as Majority Leader.
“We truly are a family,” White said. “Now we may have the crazy aunt, and we may have the crazy uncle, and we may have the cousin that you really don’t want to have Thanksgiving dinner with…but we are a family. And our job is to come back as this family.”
And after two rounds of voting, Sen. Becky Massey managed to replace Sen. Ken Yager as caucus chair, promising “more transparency, more inclusion,” for members.
“I recognize that this is an important leadership responsibility, and one I take very seriously. Our caucus has an important story to tell,” she added. “Every day, we are working to advance policies that strengthen our economy, support families, create opportunities, and improve the quality of life for people across Tennessee. One of my priorities as chairman will be to ensure that Tennesseans understand not only what we are doing, but how those decisions positively impact their lives and communities. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues, building on the work we have accomplished, and making sure our message reflects the shared commitment of our caucus to the people of Tennessee.”
Top Tennessee Republicans offered their congratulations to the new leaders, including Gov.-elect Blackburn, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, and former Knox County mayor Glenn Jacobs, the latter two of whom are rumored to be in consideration to fill Blackburn’s U.S. Senate seat upon her resignation.
While these caucus votes determine who steps into some of the most important roles in Tennessee governance, the ballots are secret, meaning members’ votes are not recorded for the public to see and leaving constituents with little accountability from their elected official unless a Senator chooses to announce who they supported.
There was also no official tally offered to the public, so it is unknown how many votes each candidate received other than who the majority winners were. The Caucus still has to elect a Treasurer, Secretary, Chaplain, and nominate two members to the Joint Fiscal Review Committee, which will occur at the beginning of the legislative session in January.
Sources:
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About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
