NASHVILLE, TN — Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) today announced he will not seek re-election to the Tennessee State Senate in 2026, concluding a legislative career spanning nearly five decades.
“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,” said Lt. Governor McNally.
“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.” McNally continued. “My aim each day was to leave my state and my community a little better than I found them. Together, I believe we have done just that.”
During his tenure, McNally helped lead the Tennessee General Assembly through a period of historic financial stability and economic growth.
“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. We have maintained balanced budgets, built one of the largest rainy day funds in state history, cut taxes to spur economic growth, and made strategic investments in education and workforce development. At the same time, we have strengthened public safety, kept our debt low, and ensured responsible spending. That is how you build a state that works not just for today, but for generations to come. I am proud to have been part of that effort.”
Tennessee is widely recognized as a national leader in fiscal responsibility and conservative governance.
McNally was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1978. After four terms in the House, he was elected to the state Senate in 1986. While in the House, McNally began his long service on the Finance, Ways and Means Committee, where he developed the policy expertise that would define his legislative career. He went on to serve 26 years on the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, including ten years as chairman. Prior to his election as Speaker of the Senate in 2017, McNally was the chamber’s leading voice for fiscal responsibility.
By the end of his current term in November, Lt. Governor McNally will have served 48 years in the legislature. When a new Speaker of the Senate is elected in January, McNally will have completed a decade in the position.
LINK TO MCNALLY FLOOR SPEECH:
