Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is set to retire after 47 years serving in the General Assembly and nearly a decade presiding over the state Senate.
At a floor session on Thursday, 82-year-old McNally, a Republican representing the East Tennessee town of Oak Ridge, announced he will not seek reelection this November — a decision he said came in part due to his and his wife Jan’s physical health conditions.
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“We both realize that our paths are kind of short, and this gives us more time to spend together,” McNally said, addressing his fellow senators.
“I often walk down the halls and see the pictures of the older senators who left us, and you can't really remember their names,” McNally reflected. “And that will happen to each of us at a certain time, but during this moment, and during my time here, I very much appreciated each and every one of you.”
His announcement was met with a standing ovation from the chamber and praise from fellow Republicans.
“Gov. McNally, you will not be soon forgotten,” said Sen. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin). “You have been gracious and kind to all of us in this room. Your service to our state has been great. It's been long. It's been enduring, and you changed the state for betterment through your tenure.”
McNally began his career as a pharmacist and was first elected to public office in 1978 as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, where he served for eight years. In 1986, he was elected to the state Senate and was elected to lead the chamber as lieutenant governor in 2017. He retired from pharmacy work in 2010.
McNally rose to prominence as a state legislator in the 1980s when he worked with the FBI on “Operation Rocky Top” — McNally wore a wire in an effort that exposed corruption in Tennessee politics.
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Concerns regarding McNally’s health arose in 2023 when he underwent emergency heart surgery, though he returned to the Senate floor a week later. A month after that, McNally received criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike — and ridicule on Saturday Night Live — for leaving comments on a young gay man’s revealing Instagram posts. He ultimately survived a no-confidence vote from his colleagues following the scandal.
It’s not yet clear who will take over as lieutenant governor, but Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) could be a frontrunner.
“There will be plenty of time to talk about that,” Johnson told reporters on Thursday when asked if he’s seeking the position. “We got weeks and months ahead. We need to focus on getting our session completed now. I think our focus now needs to be on celebrating the legacy of Randy McNally.”
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
