Tennessee State Senator Mae Beavers announced she has decided to resign her seat in the legislature in order to run for governor full-time.
Beavers made the announcement around 3 p.m. Wednesday and added her resignation will be effective at noon on Friday, September 1.
“It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing that next Wednesday (August 30th) at noon, I plan to deliver a letter to Governor Bill Haslam and Lt. Governor Randy McNally informing them that I am resigning from the State Senate,” Beavers said. “My travels across our state to campaign for Governor should not deprive the taxpayers of the 17th Senatorial District of the devoted and consistent conservative representation they have come to expect.”
Beavers has represented the 17th District — Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, and Wilson counties — since 2003. The district also previously included Sumner and Trousdale counties.
Before being a state senator, Beavers served as a county commissioner in Wilson County from 1990 to 1994 and a state representative from 1994 to 2002.
“It has been a honor to serve in the Tennessee Senate for almost fifteen years,” continued Beavers. “It is therefore with a heavy heart, but also with great excitement, that I resign my Senate seat and look forward to a new phase in my campaign to be Tennessee’s next Governor. I have always taken my duties in the state legislature extremely seriously, and I have concluded that it is simply not possible for anyone to run a statewide grassroots campaign while effectively serving during legislative session.”
Reports stated that by resigning now, a special election will be able to take place later this year. Beavers said that will ensure the 17th District has a “fully focused representative in place the day that session begins.”
