TN Reps Pledge to Elect GOP leaders

By Carrie Pond

Nashville, TN – All 50 Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives have signed a pledge to elect a slate of GOP leaders when the legislative session convenes in January. The letter released Tuesday signals a likely end to Democratic House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh's record 18-year hold on the top post in the House. Naifeh had often been able to persuade a handful of Republicans to vote for him when Democrats held a majority. Republicans won a one-vote advantage in the General Assembly's lower chamber in last week's election.