Glen Casada was voted in as the new Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, replacing Beth Harwell.
Three lawmakers have made their bid for the seat. They are Majority Leader Glenn Casada of Franklin, Assistant Leader David Hawk of Greeneville and Speaker Pro Tem Curtis Johnson of Clarksville.
Casada won the election with 47 of the 73 votes.
Harwell relinquished the seat during her 2018 run for governor. She lost in the August 4 Republican primary.
Thank you so much to my colleagues in the State House for electing me as your Speaker-elect and Rep. Bill Dunn as Speaker Pro Tempore-elect. Together, we’re going to take Tennessee to the top! #TNlegpic.twitter.com/A1dcfdaBf6
— Glen Casada (@GlenCasada) November 20, 2018
Governor-elect Bill Lee congratulated Casada on Twitter.
Congratulations @GlenCasada. I’m looking forward to working with you in the coming session.
— Bill Lee (@BillLeeTN) November 20, 2018
Casada's leadership role adds to an already robust group of lawmakers and state leadership from Williamson County. Governor-elect Bill Lee hails from Fernvale. Senator-elect Marsha Blackburn lives in Brentwood and Representative Casada is from Franklin.
"There is a healthy rivalry between the house, the senate and the governor. So, it's not like we're on the same side of government. We're three different branches. And so, the word I'm going to use is "a healthy rivalry" with the governor, with the house, with the Senate and the judiciary too," said Casada about the connection.
