NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Franklin Republican Jack Johnson is in line to become Tennessee’s next lieutenant governor, and he will take the gavel of the state Senate just as lawmakers face hard choices on road money and the tax on groceries.
Senate Republicans on Tuesday chose Johnson to be their candidate for Senate speaker, a job that carries the title of lieutenant governor. The full chamber casts the formal vote when the 115th General Assembly opens on Jan. 12, 2027. With 27 of the 33 seats in GOP hands, the caucus choice is expected to stand.
Johnson would replace Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, who is stepping away after five terms in the post and 48 years as a legislator. Johnson has spent four terms as Senate majority leader. In a caucus statement, he pledged to partner with Gov.-elect Marsha Blackburn, the incoming chief executive, and with House Speaker Cameron Sexton so the state stays a national leader in fiscal responsibility and economic opportunity.
The caucus also reshuffled the rest of its leadership. Sen. Dawn White of Murfreesboro, who heads the Senate Education Committee, was chosen to take over as majority leader. Sen. Becky Massey of Knoxville, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, will lead the Republican Caucus in place of Sen. Ken Yager of Kingston.
Money questions are waiting. The state is working from a $58 billion spending plan for fiscal 2027, made up of about $30 billion in state general fund and dedicated dollars, $19 billion in federal money and $9 billion from fees, tuition and bonds, figures Johnson laid out when he presented the budget in April.
Roads are the biggest pressure point. A study by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations estimated the state will need roughly $3.6 billion in fiscal 2027-28 just to keep up existing roads and bridges and hold capacity spending steady. Meanwhile, the Choice Lanes partnership that will add two toll lanes on Interstate 24 between Murfreesboro and Nashville is projected by the transportation department to send about $7.7 billion to the state by 2035.
Shoppers are watching a second fight. Sexton has filed a bill to drop the 4% state sales tax on milk, bread and eggs. No Senate version has been filed yet. Lawmakers return for the new session in January.
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Filed under: Nashville TN Politics News
