Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) said disciplinary action may be forthcoming in the Tennessee Senate following disruptions during last week’s special legislative session on congressional redistricting, calling the conduct inside the chamber.
Last week’s special legislative session in which lawmakers approved a new congressional map expected to give Republicans a 9-0 majority was marked by intense protests inside the Tennessee Capitol, including demonstrations by Democratic lawmakers and activists opposing the redistricting plan.
Among demonstrations in the Senate chamber, Democratic State Senator Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) was seen standing on her desk while shouting and displaying a banner criticizing the map as a “Jim Crow” effort in an attempt to disrupt voting proceedings. Video also appeared to show Oliver attempting to retrieve the sign from a Senate Sergeant at Arms.
Johnson, who has served in the Tennessee Senate for 20 years, said he had never witnessed similar conduct.
“This is my 20th year as a member of the Tennessee State Senate, and I’ve certainly never witnessed any violation of decorum that rose to that level, anywhere close to that level,” Johnson said in an exclusive sit down interview Thursday on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show.
“I don’t know that’s ever happened and it certainly hasn’t happened in modern history, and it was a disgrace that it happened,” he added.
Johnson went on to contrast last week’s demonstrations with earlier eras when Republicans were the minority party in Tennessee government.
“I don’t remember any Republican in the super minority at that time behaving in a way that our Democrats did last week,” he said. “And it’s a real stain, I think, on the integrity and the sanctity of the institution.”
“I take a lot of pride in being a member of the state senate,” Johnson added. “It is a really wonderful body, and wonderful men and women who serve there and work very hard to represent the people of the state of Tennessee…I always say if I ever get to a point to where I don’t have some goosebumps whenever I walk into that chamber as a member of it, then I probably don’t need to be serving there anymore.”
He continued, “To see it disgraced in the way that it was last Thursday saddens me.”
Over in the Tennessee House, Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) announced Tuesday that Democratic lawmakers would be removed from all current House standing committee and subcommittee assignments following last week’s disruptions.
Johnson said similar disciplinary action could occur in the Senate under the authority of Lieutenant Governor and Senate Speaker Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge).
“There have to be consequences,” Johnson said. “I certainly anticipate that there will be consequences of some degree, maybe similar consequences on the Senate side.”
He emphasized that McNally was reviewing video footage and conducting “a really thorough assessment” of the events before making any final decisions.
During Thursday’s interview, Johnson also defended the Tennessee General Assembly’s rapid action on redistricting after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais prompted the special session.
“We have a duty to our constituents to maximize our partisan advantage,” Johnson said. “And that’s what we did.”
Johnson credited Republican lawmakers with moving quickly after discussions between Governor Bill Lee and President Donald Trump regarding congressional lines.
“The governor issued a call the next day on Friday. The following Tuesday we’re in, and then the next Thursday it’s done,” Johnson said. “That’s impressive.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X.
