The Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus on Tuesday chose State Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) to serve as the next Tennessee Lieutenant Governor. He will succeed Lt. Governor Randy McNally, who will have served 10 years in the office when he retires in January.
Though vote totals have not been released, reports confirm Johnson won more votes than State Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta) from the 27 Republicans in the State Senate. Now the Republican nominee, Johnson is expected to be elected before the full Tennessee General Assembly on January 12.
Voters included State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), who was elected to represent Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District last week but was reportedly allowed to vote by proxy on Tuesday.
“Congratulations to my friend, [Jack Johnson], the next Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee,” wrote U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who was elected to serve as Tennessee’s 51st governor.
She wrote, “I look forward to working alongside you to make Tennessee America’s conservative leader!”
Congratulations to my friend, @SenJohnson, the next Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee!
I look forward to working alongside you to make Tennessee America's conservative leader! pic.twitter.com/zuLhVVl6O5
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) November 10, 2026
U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) also congratulated Johnson in a post on social media, calling him a friend, and predicting he will “do an amazing job.”
Well wishes also came from Glenn Jacobs, the former Knox County Mayor, who, like Burchett, is reportedly under consideration by Blackburn to fill her term in the U.S. Senate.
“Congratulations to our next Lieutenant Governor and my friend,” wrote Jacobs. “Tennessee continues to lead with leadership like this.”
Congratulations to our next Lieutenant Governor and my friend, @SenJohnson!
Tennessee continues to lead with leadership like his. pic.twitter.com/0cHCMXDzBJ
— Glenn Jacobs (@GlennJacobsTN) November 10, 2026
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett also congratulated Johnson, calling him a “strong and steady leader in the General Assembly,” and writing that he looks “forward to continuing our work together on behalf of the people of Tennessee.”
Johnson was first elected to the Tennessee State Senate in 2006 and was later nominated by his colleagues in the Republican caucus to serve as its majority leader in 2018.
In July, Johnson appeared on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show to defend Tennessee after CNBC claimed the Volunteer State offers its residents the lowest quality of life in the nation.
“I think [Tennessee is a great place]. Apparently, there are some that don’t think so. But I think it’s a very special place,” Johnson told The Tennessee Star Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy. “I think we’re the best managed, most conservative state in America.”
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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].
Photo “Jack Johnson” by Jack Johnson.
