After social media scandal, Tennessee Republicans vote to keep Randy McNally as their speaker

Senate Speaker Randy McNally has survived a vote of no confidence after his social media activity threatened his leadership role.

Republican state senators voted 19 to 7 late Monday in favor of keeping the 79-year-old on as their party leader.

“I have always been honored, humbled and grateful for the support of my caucus,” said McNally in an emailed statement from his office. “I remain so today.”

The speaker’s job was in question after his Instagram activity was brought to light earlier this month. The Oak Ridge Republican admitted he had liked and commented, sometimes using heart and fire emojis, on several pictures of a younger gay man in his underwear.

While McNally survived the no-confidence vote, party insiders told WPLN that the incident left some doubt about how long he would remain in that post. McNally has since apologized for his behavior and took down his Instagram account. 

Only one lawmaker, House Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, had released a letter calling on McNally to resign over the scandal.

The last time a vote of no confidence took place in Tennessee’s legislature was in 2019. Republicans voted 45-24 to remove scandal-plagued former House Speaker Glen Casada. Casada resigned the speakership months later.