NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Randy McNally, the longtime Republican lawmaker and leader of the Tennessee Senate since 2017, will not seek reelection in 2026.
McNally made the announcement on Thursday.
"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," he said on his social media. "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."
You can read his full thread below.
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
“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,” said Lt. Governor McNally.
“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 continued. “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.”
Many across the state have issued their statements following the announcement.
For nearly five decades, @ltgovmcnally has devoted himself to the service of Tennessee and its people. His steady leadership, courageous integrity, and deep commitment to public service have left a lasting mark on our state. We are profoundly grateful for his decades of faithful… https://t.co/mO0O2dnZ6N
— TN Attorney General (@AGTennessee) February 26, 2026
Sen. Charlane Oliver
Today, Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally announced he will not seek re-election, citing health reasons. With that, Tennessee loses one of its finest and longest-serving public servants.
Lt. Governor Randy McNally has dedicated the better part of his life to the people of Tennessee. First elected in 1978, he closes a chapter that has stretched across nearly five decades of public service. He has shown up — through changing times, shifting politics, and personal challenges — with a commitment to this institution and to the constituents he was called to serve.
As the Speaker of the Senate, Lt. Governor McNally commanded the respect of every member of the Tennessee Senate, not through force but through character. True leadership and statesmanship are rare in today’s political climate, and regardless of where one stands on the issues or ideological spectrum, Lt. Governor McNally governed with a steady, principled hand.
We have not always agreed, and that is no secret. The Tennessee Senate is a chamber where our differences are real and where the stakes of our debates are felt every day in the lives of our neighbors. But democracy is only meaningful when those differences are engaged with honesty and without malice, and I have always believed that Lt. Governor McNally understood that sacred responsibility.
In my short time in the Senate, he has treated me with nothing but kindness, fairness, and respect, and for that I am genuinely grateful.
Integrity comes at an expensive cost, and if you know his track record, Tennessee owes him a debt of gratitude for his lifetime of service and courageous sacrifice.
As he steps away from this chamber, I extend my sincere gratitude to him, to his wife Janice, and to his family for the years they, too, gave to the people of Tennessee. Public service is never a solo act; it asks something of everyone who stands beside the person who serves.
History will write its full account of this era in time. But today, I simply wish Lt. Governor McNally a retirement full of rest, family, and the deep satisfaction of a life spent in service to others.
.@ltgovmcnally has been a friend for over thirty years, and 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. pic.twitter.com/740Kt94IM1
— Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) February 26, 2026
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Here’s a beautiful story of how one mother turned her grief journey into a gathering of gratitude… and organ donation awareness.
Robb Coles highlights a special event organized by Cari Hollis – whose 26-year old son Austin died two years ago. Austin agreed to be an organ donor – and that single gesture saved multiple lives.
Cari reached out to as many recipients she could find – several of whom traveled to Nashville for an emotional celebration in Austin’s honor. One woman – whose life was saved by receiving Austin’s lungs – put it simply: “He’s my angel”.
- Rhori Johnston
