Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) announced Thursday he will not seek reelection to the Tennessee State Senate in 2026.
McNally has served in the Tennessee General Assembly since 1979, first as a state representative before being elected to the Tennessee Senate in 1987. He was elected by his colleagues in 2017 to serve as lieutenant governor and senate speaker.
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
On Thursday, after publicly announcing his decision on the Senate floor, McNally wrote in a social media post, “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.”
In a series of follow-up posts, McNally reflected on his time in office.
“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 wrote. “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. Tennessee’s success is due in no small part to the people I have served alongside every day.”
McNally pointed to what he described as key accomplishments during his tenure, including disciplined budgeting and conservative fiscal management.
He highlighted balanced budgets, growth of the state’s rainy day fund to one of the largest in state history, tax cuts aimed at spurring economic growth, as well as efforts to strengthen public safety, keep state debt low, and ensure 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,” McNally added.
McNally was thanked by the Tennessee Senate Majority Caucus for his “honorable service” to the Volunteer State.
U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) called McNally a “trusted friend and a steady conservative leader for Tennessee,” adding in a social media post, “From his time in the House of Representatives to his service as Lieutenant Governor, Speaker McNally has never wavered in his commitment to the betterment of our state.”
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who served alongside McNally in the state senate in the early 2000s, called the outgoing lieutenant governor “a friend for over thirty years,” adding, “his steady conservative leadership has played a critical role in Tennessee’s strong fiscal state. Tennesseans are grateful for his service, and we wish him the best in his next chapter.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Lt. Randy McNally” by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally.
