Republicans want this Midstate senator to be Tennessee’s next lieutenant governor

What This Story Is About

• A Middle Tennessee state senator has been selected by the GOP to be the next speaker of the Upper House of the General Assembly and lieutenant governor.

Why It Matters

• The lieutenant governor is the first person in the line of succession for the governor’s office, meaning they would be the first person to take over if the governor left office — whether that be due to removal, resignation, illness or death — before the end of their term.

What Happens Next

• Sen. Jack Johnson must officially be elected speaker of the Tennessee Senate by his peers.

For Context

• Before his selection as the GOP speaker candidate, Johnson served as the majority leader for the Tennessee Senate.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A Middle Tennessee state senator is now in the running for one of the highest offices in the Volunteer State.

On Tuesday, Sen. Randy McNally congratulated Sen. Jack Johnson on being selected by the Tennessee Senate Majority Caucus as a candidate to be his successor as lieutenant governor and speaker of the Tennessee Senate.

The speaker of the Upper House of the General Assembly is elected by their peers, and that role automatically comes with the role of lieutenant governor. As Republicans have a majority in the Senate, their selection is nearly guaranteed the role.

The lieutenant governor is the first person in the line of succession for the governor’s office, meaning they would be the first person to take over if the governor left office — whether that be due to removal, resignation, illness or death — before the end of their term.

Before his selection, Johnson served as the majority leader for the Tennessee Senate. On Tuesday, McNally announced that District 13 Sen. Dawn White was elected to be the next majority leader. Johnson represents the state’s 27th district in Williamson County.

“During his eight years as leader, our state and our caucus have cut taxes, helped create jobs and made Tennessee a better place to live, work and retire. He will be an outstanding Speaker,” McNally said.

In February, McNally announced that he would soon be moving on from his role as lieutenant governor and speaker of the Tennessee Senate.

It has been the honor of my life to represent the people of my community and serve the people of Tennessee. It is with a full heart and a deep sense of gratitude that I announce I will not be a candidate for the state Senate in 2026.

— Randy McNally (@ltgovmcnally) February 26, 2026

“It has been the honor of my life to represent the people of my community and serve the people of Tennessee. It is with a full heart and a deep sense of gratitude that I announce I will not be a candidate for the state Senate in 2026,” he wrote on X.

“My public service has been a team effort every step of the way. I offer my deepest thanks to the constituents I have served and to the members and staff with whom I have collaborated.”