(NASHVILLE, TN), January 14, 2025 — The State Senate today re-elected Lt. Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) for a fifth term as Speaker of the Senate. Senators met at noon on the first organizational day of the 114th General Assembly to elect their speaker. By statute, the Speaker of the Senate holds the title of Lieutenant Governor. McNally has served as Speaker of the Senate and Lieutenant Governor since January 2017.

“It is hard to describe with words the true honor this is. Each General Assembly I have gaveled in as speaker has been better than the last. I am continually impressed by the quality of the people who sacrifice family time and career advancement to serve our state,” said Lt. Governor McNally.

“Tennessee has made remarkable progress over the last decade. We have low debt, a triple AAA credit rating and an economy that is the envy of the nation. But there is more work to do,” McNally continued. “With a new administration in Washington and a clear mandate for conservative governance both here in Tennessee and across the nation, Tennessee has a chance to truly lead. I have no doubt that we will seize it.”

ABOUT LT. GOVERNOR RANDY MCNALLY

Tennessee’s fiscal conscience, Lt. Governor Randy McNally is only the second Republican Tennessee Senate Speaker in modern history and the first from Anderson County in nearly 150 years.

As chairman of the Senate’s Finance, Ways and Means Committee for a decade, McNally oversaw the General Assembly’s only constitutionally prescribed duty: the passage of a balance budget. Recognized across the state as a finance and budget expert, McNally’s leadership has been critical in keeping Tennessee budget in balance and its credit “Triple-A” rated.

In addition to his 26 years on the Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee, McNally also served as chairman of the Senate Education Committee in the 102nd and 103rd General Assemblies.

A legislative leader for over 40 years, Lt. Governor McNally has been recognized for his work in the General Assembly and his community. McNally counts among his many achievements the American Conservative Union Conservative Achievement Award, NFIB’s Guardian of Small Business Award, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police Legislative Award and the Tennessee Press Association Open Government Award.

McNally received his B.S. from Memphis State University in 1967 and graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy in 1969. He served as a hospital pharmacist at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge from 1979 until his retirement in 2010. Lt. Governor McNally and his wife Janice have two adult daughters, Melissa and Maggie, three grandchildren, Haley, Morgan and Trent, and two great-grandchildren, Malachi and Jeremiah.