A first-term state senator from Humboldt bolted from the Democrats to the Republicans on Friday night.
The move by Sen. Don McLeary gives the GOP a two-vote majority in the Senate instead of one.
The decision was welcomed by Republicans and blasted by Democrats.
Republicans Randy McNally and Majority Leader Ron Ramsey issued this joint statement:
"The Senate Republican Caucus welcomes Sen. Don McLeary as our newest Caucus member today. Sen. McLeary increases our numbers to 18 in the Senate Majority Caucus for the first time since Reconstruction.
"We all look forward to working together with Sen. McLeary for the good of the people in his district and for the good of all the people of Tennessee.
"Sen. McLeary's fundamental core beliefs and values are in line with those of Republicans and on our side of the aisle he will provide considerable input and value to legislative considerations and discussions in the future.
"Sen. McLeary becomes the fourth former Democrat we know of to join us in the Senate Republican Caucus.
"The most recent two, Sens. Rusty Crowe and Milton Hamilton, joined our Caucus on Sept. 15, 1995, and made history in the process by giving Republicans a 17-16 advantage in the Senate.
"Sen. Curtis Person initially came to the House of Representatives in 1966 as a Democrat, but by 1968 he had come to the conclusion that he really was a Republican at heart. Sen. Person then ran and won a Senate seat which he has held since 1968.
"Sen. McLeary, we appreciate your work in the Senate."
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bryant joined Sen. McLeary at the Jackson press conference in which Sen. McLeary announced he was switching to the Republican Party. Bryant said he had been encouraging McLeary to switch parties, "as Sen. McCleary’s views are more in line with the Republican Party, rather than the liberal Democrats."
“This is a great day for Republicans across Tennessee and especially in West Tennessee,” stated Bryant. “Don McLeary is just the latest addition to the growing number of Republicans in West Tennessee. Don shares our Tennessee values and I am proud to have played a part in getting a state senator who always puts his constituents ahead of partisan politics to switch to the Republican Party, which better represents his views and those of a large number of like-minded Democrats across West Tennessee.”
Sen. McLeary and his wife, Mary, were Bryant’s guests at Friday night’s Shelby County Lincoln Day Dinner in Cordova
Bob Tuke, chairman of the Tennessee Democratic Party, said, "While we’re disappointed that Sen. McLeary decided to abandon his party and turn away from his constituents in the middle of this session of the General Assembly, we’re not surprised. As a practical matter, this move will make little difference. The Senate has a strong tradition of independence, and we don’t believe that Sen. McLeary will change his voting pattern.
"Thousands of voters in District 27 elected him as a Democrat and have supported him in office as a Democrat. He has betrayed them by switching parties without an election. If Sen. McLeary felt this move was necessary, he should have finished his term as a Democrat and then run for re-election as a Republican.
"Tennesseans value loyalty and dependability in their leaders. Sen. McLeary has disappointed on both counts. We regret his decision for him as much as for anyone, and we fully expect to take this seat back in the fall."
Democratic Sen. Joe Haynes said, “I am disappointed in the actions of Don McLeary today. Since his arrival in the state Senate, the Democratic Caucus has stood behind him. We’ve helped him learn the process. We’ve supported his legislative initiatives."