Lt. Gov. Randy McNally will not seek re-election

After a 50-year career, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally has announced he will not seek re-election this fall.  

McNally, who represents Tennessee Senate District 5, cited health concerns as the primary reason for his decision to step down. McNally underwent emergency heart surgery in February 2023 where a pacemaker was installed and missed some of the 2024 legislative session after having a second surgery on an ankle. 

“It has been the honor of my life to represent the people of my community and serve the people of Tennessee,” McNally said in a statement via Facebook. “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. 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. 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.” 

The Oak Ridge Republican has served in the 50th lieutenant governor of the state since his appointment in 2017. He was initially elected to the Tennessee State House representing House District 33 from 1979 until 1987. He was then elected to represent Senate District 5 in 1987, a position he has held since.  

“Tennessee’s success is due in no small part to the people I have served alongside every day,” McNally said.  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.” 

TML Executive Director Anthony Haynes noted that McNally has been a fixture at many of TML’s Legislative Conferences, addressing membership on a wide variety of issues.  

“Randy McNally will rank among the highest of Tennessee statesmen that made a lasting, positive impact on our state and the people that call her home,” Haynes said.  

Gov. Bill Lee said McNally and his wife Jan had been great friends to himself and his wife Maria, providing them comfort and kindness during some of their darkest days. Lee said McNally’s legacy would continue to shape the future of the state.  

“For more than 40 years, Lt. Governor Randy McNally has faithfully served the people of Tennessee with conviction and humility,” Lee said. “His steady leadership has guided our state through seasons of growth and change, and few statesman have had as lasting and meaningful an impact. Since my first days of serving as governor, Randy has been a trusted mentor to me, generous with his counsel and unwavering in his deep love for the Tennesseans he represents.” 

House Speaker Cameron Sexton thanked McNally for “a job well done.”  

“I've known Lt. Governor Randy McNally for almost four decades,” Sexton said. “My first job in politics was working on his campaign in 1994. It has been an honor to serve with him and be able to call him a mentor and a friend. His steady leadership, courage, and integrity have guided Tennessee through some of our toughest moments, and he always stood strong in those moments for all of us. Thank you to Jan and his children for the sacrifices they made so he could serve our great state."