NASHVILLE — Tennessee House Republican lawmakers will meet July 24 to pick a speaker nominee to succeed Rep. Glen Casada, who is resigning the chamber's No. 1 post after a GOP Caucus vote of no confidence last month.
It comes with Republican Gov. Bill Lee expected to announce as early as this week a date in mid-to-late August to call the General Assembly into special session so the House can elect Casada's replacement on the chamber floor.
Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, announced the date late Wednesday afternoon in a statement saying that "following conversations with our members over the last several days, I am calling a caucus meeting for July 24th to select a Republican nominee for speaker of the House."
Lamberth said it's "my understanding the governor will announce a date for a special session later this week, and I appreciate his willingness to do so. My colleagues and I are eager to move Tennessee forward."
Casada controversies
- Embattled Tennessee speaker Glen Casada resigns from leadership role
- Gov. Lee says he knows nothing of alleged Casada bribe to break school voucher vote deadlock
- Tennessee House Republican Caucus Chairman Cameron Sexton nominated by GOP lawmakers to be next speaker
- Casada denies offering National Guard promotion, pork barrel projects to win votes on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's school voucher bill
- Embattled House Speaker Glen Casada says he can't afford alimony
- Tennessee House GOP candidates for speaker vow not to follow Casada's style
- Democrats call on Tennessee Comptroller, Nashville DA to investigate Speaker Casada spending, hires
- Gov. Lee calls for August special legislative session to replace House Speaker Glen Casada
- Tennessee House GOP to meet July 24 to nominate replacement for Speaker Casada
- Gov. Lee to call Tennessee lawmakers into August special session to replace Speaker Casada
- House Democratic Caucus chairman says Speaker Casada's 'cronies' hope to retain power with special session
- Hamilton County lawmakers want House Speaker Casada to go sooner, not later
- Critics decry 'disgraced' House Speaker Casada's ability to name appointees to new sports gaming advisory, judicial discipline panels
- Rep. Curtis Johnson announces bid for Tennessee House speaker, pledges to 'restore credibility, trustworthiness'
- Vanderbilt poll: Voters across political spectrum say Glen Casada should step down from House speakership
- Casada, Carter trade barbs over Tennessee House speaker's resignation, replacement
- Embattled Tennessee House Speaker Casada announces Aug. 2 resignation, asks Gov. Lee to call special session on replacement
- Rep. Smith hopes to gain support from fellow freshmen in potential Tennessee House speaker bid
- Post-Casada job requirement: Ability to restore public trust
- Rep. Robin Smith on House speaker bid: 'I'm not saying I would never run, but at this time, I'm watching'
- Chattanooga area lawmakers share thoughts on GOP Caucus' no-confidence vote on Casada
- Timeline: The rise and fall of Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada
- Rep. Carter pledges 'clean break' as he announces bid to replace Casada as Tennessee House speaker
- Rep. Carter preparing petition to remove Casada as General Assembly member, not just as House speaker
- Tennessee Republican House Speaker Glen Casada announces his resignation
- Gov. Lee calls on House Speaker Glen Casada to resign or face special session
- Tennessee House GOP hits embattled Speaker Glen Casada with no-confidence vote
- Reps. Carter, Smith offer different takes on embattled Tennessee House Speaker Casada
- Embattled House Speaker Casada faces 'no confidence' vote today in GOP Caucus but supporters may offer censure motion
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada attacks Mike Carter over criticisms
- Former top aide for Tennessee's embattled House speaker to stay on payroll until July
- Rep. Carter: If ethics panel is not 'above rank political maneuvering and conniving then we as a body are lost'
- Ethics Committee member Mike Carter calls on Tennessee House Speaker Casada to resign amid text messaging scandal
- Tennessee House GOP Caucus members to meet to discuss political fate of embattled Speaker Glen Casada
- Glen Casada controversy opens old wounds from 2018 Hamilton County state House GOP primary
- Tennessee legislative Black Caucus calls on Speaker Glen Casada to resign over racial texts, other issues
- Yet another Tennessee Republican House member calls on Glen Casada to resign
- Embroiled in controversies, Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada battles on after Lt. Gov. McNally says it's time to go
- Reps. Hazlewood, Carter lose faith in Tennessee Speaker Glen Casada amid text messaging scandal, other issues
- Tennessee Firearms Association head calls on House to oust Glen Casada as speaker
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada apologizes for text message controversies, pledges changes after some Republicans call for his resignation
- Tennessee House Democrats demand federal investigation into claims that Casada eavesdropped on private meetings
- Bill Lee wants public confidence 'fully restored' after Casada text message scandal
- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada 'sorry' over text scandal but won't resign
- After admitting drug use, Tennessee House speaker's top aide resigns amid allegations of racist and sexually explicit texts
Republican candidates for speaker are Reps. Mike Carter of Ooltewah and Curtis Johnson of Clarksville, GOP Caucus Chairman Cameron Sexton of Crossville, Deputy Speaker Matthew Hill of Jonesborough and Rep. Jay Reedy of Erin.
Others eyeing bids include Rep. Robin Smith of Hixson, former GOP Caucus Chairman Ryan Williams of Cookeville and Jerry Sexton of Bean Station.
Casada, who only became speaker in January, was rocked by revelations of sexually explicit text messages in exchanges with a then-top aide, Cade Cothren, three years ago.
Other controversies soon piled up for the speaker, among them charges by a black activist and his attorney that then-Chief of Staff Cothren sought to frame the activist with an email violating a no-contact order involving the speaker.
These and Casada's hard-driving leadership style helped lead to a GOP Caucus meeting where members voted 45-24 on May 20 to say they no longer had confidence in their speaker.
Casada has said he plans to resign Aug. 2.
Because Republicans control 73 of the chamber's 99 votes, it virtually ensures that whoever becomes the GOP Caucus' nominee will be elected speaker on the House floor.
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow on Twitter @AndySher1.
State Rep. and Speaker of the Tennessee House Glen Casada speaks during the Hamilton County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Westin Hotel on Friday, April 26, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn.