Following more than a quarter century in the Tennessee General Assembly, State Representative Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar) in April announced his decision to retire from the Tennessee General Assembly.
Shaw added context to his decision to leave public service in a Monday interview with WREG, telling the Memphis television station that shifting politics, seemingly in concert with increased partisanship, prompted the 84-year-old to retire.
“I’ve always believed that I was not a Democrat or Republican or an independent, but a servant, a statesman, people who serve people. I’ve always kept the focus of serving people,” said Shaw, according to the outlet.
Shaw (pictured above) told the TV station, “Politics has shifted to be so different from what it was when I started and what I really know about politics, [until] I didn’t really have a taste to continue in the vein that it where it’s going now.”
Despite his looming retirement from the General Assembly in January, the outlet reported that Shaw plans to continue serving as a pastor, and as an on-air personality at the two Bolivar radio stations that he owns and used to manage. Shaw’s daughter is now involved in managing his radio business, WREG reported.
Though he did not name any of his colleagues who may be part of the shift in Tennessee politics he observed over 26 years, the decision to retire notably comes about two years after State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) threatened Shaw with a primary challenger over his vote on rules for the State House.
Shaw broke with Tennessee Democrats to vote for new rule changes introduced by Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) in 2024 after Pearson and State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) were both expelled from the legislative body over their participation in a pro-gun-control riot the previous year. Both were quickly returned to their seats by their respective local governments and have since won reelection.
Lawmakers additionally considered expelling State Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), but fell short of the required two-thirds majority in their expulsion vote.
After Shaw broke with Democrats in the rules vote, Pearson, who is now running for the Democratic nomination to represent the redrawn 9th Congressional District, said the two-decade incumbent could face a primary challenger.
“I do not believe that people who are silent are going to continue being of service to the people of their districts because the people in their communities do not want the status quo to continue,” Pearson told The Tennessee Lookout. The outlet reported that Pearson implied Shaw should “become more militant,” or else, “Pearson is going to fund a primary opponent” to oppose him.
In response, Shaw told The Lookout that both Pearson and Jones “wanted to be expelled,” while Democrats “were working hard to try to keep them” in office.
While Pearson did not appear to find a primary challenger to run against Shaw in 2024, when the Memphis Democrat launched his congressional campaign last year, he notably challenged U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), who has been a fixture in Tennessee Democratic politics since the 1970s.
Cohen ultimately announced that he would suspend his campaign and retire from Congress after the General Assembly redrew the district in May. He has since endorsed State Senator London Lamar (D-Memphis), who has described Cohen as a mentor.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Tennessee State House Floor” by Ichabod. CC BY-SA 3.0.
